Music executive, Excel Joab confirmed as a panellist for NECLive 2026
Music executive Excel Joab has been confirmed as a panellist at NECLive 2026, bringing more than a decade of experience across streaming, music distribution, artist management and development to the annual entertainment industry gathering.
Joab has built a career spanning several sides of the music business, beginning with his work as a Content Executive at Boombuzz before moving to Boomplay Nigeria, where he served as Content Acquisition Manager. These roles placed him at the intersection of music discovery, digital distribution and the platforms connecting artists with audiences.
His work extends beyond streaming. Joab is a co-founder of Energize Music and Arktik Kold, ventures that reflect his involvement in the wider music ecosystem, including artist development and music entrepreneurship.
Since 2024, he has served as Senior Manager, A&R and Artist Development for West Africa at AWAL, the music company within Sony Music. In the role, he operates within a part of the industry focused on identifying talent, developing artists and building pathways for music to reach broader audiences.
Joab is also a co-host of the Zero Conditions podcast, where conversations around music, culture and the entertainment business form part of his wider engagement with the industry.
His career offers a perspective shaped by experience across platforms, labels, distribution and artist development, at a time when the West African music industry continues to expand its international reach while navigating questions of ownership, monetisation, talent development and sustainable growth.
His confirmation adds a music business perspective to the NECLive 2026 programme, with his experience offering insight into the commercial structures and creative partnerships influencing the region’s evolving sound.
