OkayStudios: Building an Award-Winning Video Studio in 2 Years

Role: Head of Studios and Executive Producer, Okayplayer & OkayAfrica

Timeline: 2024 to present

Headline result: 19 awards, including 14 W3 Awards, a Webby Award, and 3 Webby Honoree recognitions, plus YouTube growth from 60K to 1.2M subscribers (OkayAfrica) and 80K to 437K (Okayplayer).

The challenge Areya Media was shooting content but had no production team to scale it or make it monetizable. I was brought in to build that team and a studio that could win audiences, awards, and sponsors.

What I did

• Built versatile, easy-to-redesign studio sets for both brands.

• Built relationships with labels, PR agencies, and artists to bring talent into the studio.

• Worked with podcast hosts and teams to design and format their shows.

• Partnered with the audience development team on content and ads that drive subscriber growth.

• Set a publishing cadence of at least 3 long-form videos per week on each YouTube channel.

Results

• 200+ videos produced and 150+ acts booked and captured in two years.

• 30+ award nominations and 21+ wins, including 14 W3 Awards for the podcasts I produce and a Webby Award.

• 3 Webby Honoree recognitions: Best Video Podcast for Afrobeats Intelligence, Series & Channels (Entertainment & Music) for Offstage with Okayplayer, and Limited Series & Specials (Interview or Talk Show) for OkayAfrica Presents Birds Eye View.

• 3 of the 4 podcasts I've produced in this period have won an awards.

• 3 digital covers: Djimon Hounsou, Elsa Majimbo, and Yemi Alade.

• Okayplayer became a sought-after press stop for artists visiting NYC to promote new projects.

• Live taping partnerships with BET (The Almanac of Rap at Art Basel, BET Media House) and The Roots Picnic.

• Martell signed on as presenting sponsor for Season 5 of Afrobeats Intelligence.