Nigerian music has never been more dominant on the global stage but behind every chart-topping hit, there’s a silent fight over rights, royalties, and recognition. At the center of that battle stands Akinyemi Ayinoluwa, a former musician turned top-tier music lawyer, whose journey from Lagos streets to Billboard’s 2025 Top Music Lawyers list is both instructive and inspiring. His story isn’t just about legal finesse it’s about reshaping the music business so African creators can own their futures.
From Mic to Legal Might
Before the contracts and courtroom arguments, Akinyemi was a recording artist and frontman for the boy band 100 Degrees. That early chapter filled with performances, setbacks, and dreams deferred laid the groundwork for a rare kind of lawyer: one who speaks fluent music.
“When I didn’t ‘make it’ as a musician, I thought I was done with that world,” he tells Afrocritik. “But becoming a lawyer helped me stay in the game just in a different role.”
That pivot eventually led him to establish HighTower Solicitors & Advocates, now regarded as Africa’s premier music law firm. His mission? Protect songwriters, producers, and artists from being short-changed and educate them on how to retain ownership of what they create.
A Legal Arsenal Forged in Passion
Akinyemi cut his legal teeth at Wemimo Ogunde & Co. and Awokoya & Co., two firms known for their rigour. But it’s his unshakable love for music that sharpens his instincts.
“Most artists don’t think long term,” he says. “They’re so hungry for opportunity that they sign bad deals. As a lawyer who’s been there, I help them zoom out. What does this look like in 10 years?”
One example: in 2019, a producer he represented turned down a $50,000 publishing deal. The client has since earned multiples of that sum through a well-curated catalogue proof that patience and strategy pay off.
Building the Legal Backbone of Afrobeats
His client list reads like a roll call of Afrobeats’ most in-demand producers: Magicsticks, Ragee, Kukbeatz, Blaq Jerzee, Masterkraft. Notably, HighTower facilitated a landmark deal between EMPIRE and Ragee, co-producer of Chris Brown’s 2023 hit “Sensational” featuring Davido and Lojay later nominated for a Grammy and winner at the NAACP Image Awards.
“We’re not just doing contracts. We’re helping them build IP assets,” he explains. “Publishing, copyright, catalogue control these are the levers of long-term wealth.”
In a country where verbal agreements and handshake deals used to dominate the music industry, Ayinoluwa has pushed for professionalism and won.
Misconceptions, Pitfalls, and the Power of Knowledge
In his own words, the biggest misunderstanding among Nigerian creators is about publishing. “People think publishing is just about songs being out there. But it’s the commercial use of copyright. It’s what gets you paid long after the spotlight fades.”
He’s spent the last 13 years running seminars, creating educational content, and even launching Africa’s largest songwriting competition to fill this gap.
“There was a time when nobody respected producers and songwriters,” he says. “We had to fight for split sheets. I was called ‘difficult’ because I refused to compromise. Now, every producer on the streets of Lagos knows what a split sheet is.”
Legal Reform and Structural Change: The Next Frontier
Akinyemi isn’t stopping at contracts and education. He’s advocating for deep legal reform, including the establishment of a specialized creative industry court.
“The Copyright Act has improved, yes. But we need a judiciary that understands our business film, music, the whole ecosystem,” he argues.
He’s also calling for long-lasting, well-funded industry associations that mirror the Recording Academy or Songwriters Guild in the US institutions that ensure creatives aren’t left behind as the industry scales.
“Shared prosperity must be our model,” he insists. “Too many partnerships here end with one party rich and the other discarded.”
Beyond Nigeria: A Pan-African Vision
HighTower is now expanding into South Africa and Tanzania. “Afrobeats is pan-African by nature,” Akinyemi says. “It makes sense for our legal infrastructure to follow suit.”
He’s also launching a mentorship program to train the next generation of entertainment lawyers. “Power is tested through distribution,” he says. “I want to pass on everything I know.”
What Recognition Really Means
His Billboard accolade, while deeply affirming, is not an endpoint. “It’s proof that you can be trained in Nigeria, stay in Nigeria, and still be world-class,” he says.
He hopes it sends a message to young African lawyers and creators: the path is open, and excellence doesn’t need to be outsourced.
Final Word: Create Your Future
If there’s one line that sums up Akinyemi Ayinoluwa’s philosophy, it’s this: “Nobody is coming to save you. You have to do the work.” His favourite hashtag, #CreateYourFuture, is more than motivation it’s a call to action.
In a continent bursting with raw talent and global ambition, Ayinoluwa is doing what most can’t writing the fine print of Africa’s creative revolution. And in doing so, ensuring that tomorrow’s stars won’t just shine they’ll own their light.
