Nigeria: Cool FM to air Apple Music shows

The partnership was made public on 14 January and is expected to leverage the radio station’s audience and network to advance the acceptance of African artists across the country. The programmes that will air on the Nigerian dial are Rap Life Radio, presented by US on-air personality Ebro Darden, and Africa Now Radio, hosted by DJ Cuppy.

A subsidiary of Steam Broadcasting Communications, Cool FM has been in operation for more than two decades and mainly targets young audiences with its top-40 music programming format. The company boasts offshoot stations in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Abuja, making it one of the largest commercial private radio networks in Nigeria.

Ebro Darden, who doubles up as Apple Music’s global editorial head of hip hop and R&B, said: “So honoured and this is so dope to be able to connect the Rap Life Radio show to the Nigeria hip hop scene. Let’s make history!”

“I am excited and pleased to finally be able to share the Africa Now Radio experience with Cool FM listeners and Nigeria as a whole,” DJ Cuppy added.

Cool FM CEO Serge Noujaim said: “This syndication deal with Apple Music is in keeping with Cool FM’s corporate promise of being the number one hit music station of the nation. We’re the cool station. And this is a super cool alliance with one of the world’s coolest brands.

“Cool FM has been a step ahead of the competition in establishing itself as a force in the digital radio scene, and this first-of-its-kind syndication deal with Apple Music in Africa is the icing on top of a very beautiful cake,” the station’s head of digital, Kolapo Oladapo, said. “We are honoured and excited to start this relationship.”

Rap Life Radio and Africa Now Radio will air locally on Saturdays and Sundays at 6pm GMT.