UnitedMasters
US self-service music distributor that launched a dedicated Nigeria market entry in December 2023.
- Based in
- Brooklyn, United States
- Founded
- 2017
- Founder
- Steve Stoute
- Website
- unitedmasters.com
UnitedMasters is a US self-service digital distribution and artist-services company founded in 2017 by Steve Stoute, built around the pitch of letting independent artists distribute and monetise music globally without giving up ownership. It is headquartered in Brooklyn and is not African-owned.
The company entered Nigeria in December 2023 with a dedicated storefront (unitedmasters.com/ng), Naira-denominated membership pricing, and a launch marked by a press event and a “Live from Lagos” concert backed by Diageo and Coca-Cola, featuring Tobe Nwigwe and Sarz. The Nigeria service links artists to African DSPs including Boomplay, Audiomack, Anghami and Muska alongside the usual global platforms, and UnitedMasters extended its existing NBA brand partnership to give African artists placement on the NBA’s African social channels.
UnitedMasters remains a US company by ownership and headquarters; its African presence is a market-entry operation rather than a local subsidiary or joint venture, and it competes with home-grown African distributors on price and local DSP reach rather than on ownership.
