Nigerian Afrobeats singer Davido has revealed that he operated his record label, DMW, for four years without taking any earnings from his artists. He emphasized that as Afrobeats gained global recognition, he recognized the importance of educating his artists about the business aspects of the music industry. This commitment to mentorship and fostering a deeper understanding of the music business highlights Davido's dedication to nurturing talent and helping his artists succeed in the industry.

In an interview with US media personality Steve Stoute, the "Unavailable" hitmaker said “You know my label was really more like a family to me. I was young. I was just happy putting my boy on to me, that is what it was really all about for me.

“I ran my label for four years, and I didn’t take one dime from my artistes and I was paying for videos, accommodation and their welfare just because I was happy seeing that my success could rub up on this person, that was money for me.

“But obviously, Afrobeats got to a point now where it is global. So I now have to explain to the artistes these days that this is music business. And you have to spend money to make money,” he said.

Davido record label, DMW was established in 2016, and has served as the home to sensational music talents such as Peruzzi, Dremo, Mayorkun, among others.