Ghanaian musicians make Top 50 Young CEOs list

The annual list, which was made public on 1 June, spotlights outstanding young entrepreneurs in entertainment, finance, technology, fashion, media and social enterprise, among other sectors. It was released in partnership with The YCEO, a platform that celebrates young business leaders.

“We are recognising the contribution of musicians to the entrepreneurial space because we identified them as individuals who have taken the bold step to look beyond their music careers to start businesses to sustain their talent,” Avance Media and Africa Youth Awards founder and managing director Prince Akpah told Music In Africa.

“The search was focused on the most enterprising musicians with public evidence of the world they are engaged in and how they have influenced other young people to start their businesses.”

Sarkodie and Joe Mettle appear on the list as the CEOs of SarkCess Music and Reverb Studios respectively, while Stonebwoy and D-Black, who secured spots for a second consecutive year, are the heads of Burniton Music Group and Black Avenue Muzik. 

Abu, the CEO of 3Media Networks, which is behind the 3Music Awards, makes an appearance on the list for the second year running. Reacting to the news, he said he was “glad to have been included on honouree list.”

Last year’s list included dancehall singers Shatta Wale and Samini, as well as Eventic GH CEO Kwamivi Ashiaby, whose outfit deals with online ticketing, event promotion and marketing and putting together the annual Volta Music Awards.

This year’s selection also features the likes of broadcasters Jay Foley and Deloris Frimpong Manso, and entertainment blogger Felix Adomako Mensah.

The Top 50 Young CEOs list comes on the heels of Avance media’s February announcement of the 50 Most Influential Young Ghanaians for 2020, which includes KiDi, Kuami Eugene, Wendy Shay and Diana Hamilton.