The first-ever Afrobeats production reality show in the country, Battle of the Beats Season 1, has been debuted by XL Creative Hub, a platform set to ignite creativity and nurture ideas.
The Hub’s Business Manager, Clement Makinde, stated in a press release available to BrandSpur entertainment and lifestyle news desk that the 12-day musical competition will be streamed live on YouTube from November 1 to November 12, 2025.
Under the close supervision of seasoned industry professionals, the Business Manager stated that the show would feature a fierce creative competition between six leading Afrobeats producers.
“Watch six carefully selected producers locked in an intense camp, creating beats under pressure while professional judges evaluate every production,” he added. “We are not collecting a dime from any participant.”
Continuing, the top three producers will compete for the title in the grand finale on November 12, following an elimination night on November 8. The show premieres on November 1. The winner will receive ₦500,000, the runner-up will receive ₦300,000, and the third place will receive ₦200,000.
Following the producers’ competition, musicians from all over Nigeria will be asked to record songs utilising the selected beats and compete for significant prizes from November 12 to November 24, 2025. Downloading the winning beat, recording a song, creating a video, and submitting entries through Instagram and the official website are all part of the participation process. The winner will receive ₦1 million and a label contract, the second-place winner will receive ₦500,000, and the third-place winner will receive ₦300,000.
Voting will take place from November 12 to November 25, 2025, and the winners will be chosen by professional judges and the general public.
According to the Business Manager, the program gives everyone, regardless of location or financial situation, access to top-notch production facilities in an effort to close the gap between professional opportunity and grassroots creativity.
He went on to state: “Battle of the Beats seeks to discover raw talent, document Afrobeats’ evolution, inject funds directly into the creative economy, and build a transparent annual platform that launches real careers. We urged music lovers to follow @battleofthebeatsshow on Instagram and tune in for the show’s premiere on November 1, 2025.
“This is your moment don’t miss a beat,” he added.
Furthering, the competition’s short-term goals are to create a YouTube community with 50,000 members, launch at least three professional careers, and produce quantifiable economic impact. Its long-term goals include recognition alongside major music awards, prize pools worth ₦25 to ₦30 million, and Pan-African expansion.
According to the project’s organisers, by establishing an open, inclusive, and sustainable creative platform, it directly addresses problems of industry gatekeeping, producer undervaluation, and limited exposure.
Among the judges are Manasseh Mashi, also known as Monlee Mane, Tunde Akinsanmi of Styl Plus, and Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Onusiriuka, who works as Mr. Mekoyo.
About the Judges
Manasseh Mashi, (a.k.a Monlee Mane) is both an artist and a music producer.
Tunde Akinsanmi of Styl Plus was one of the group’s lead vocalists and, as an independent singer, has singles as ‘African Lady’ and ‘Sweet Love’.
Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Onusiriuka (a.k.a Mr Mekoyo) is a multi-talented instrumentalist, songwriter, music producer, and musician from Nigeria. As the producer of Styl-Plus’s widely acclaimed hit single “Olufunmi,” a timeless classic that continues to be one of Nigeria’s most celebrated love songs, he attained national recognition. As a producer, composer, and songwriter, Mekoyo’s name has been featured on many album credits over the years, establishing his standing as one of Nigeria’s most esteemed creative minds.
