iManage Africa partners with Music Ally on Music Business Academy for Africa

Now in its second edition, Music Business Academy for Africa is an initiative dedicated to training and developing an informed and employable generation of music entrepreneurs in Africa’s entertainment industry. It is the brainchild of Godwin Tom, a Nigerian talent manager and exec who has worked with African stars such as Wizkid and Davido.

The partnership will provide localised professional education for aspiring creative entrepreneurs across the continent.

“Afrobeats music has reintroduced Africa to the global industry in new ways and we must ensure we educate and empower young creative entrepreneurs and ultimately employees who they create employment for to take advantage of this attention,” a statement reads. “This partnership with Music Ally offers people across the continent access to up-to-date and well-researched information about the global markets.”

Music Business Academy for Africa says there will be six modules this year, including introduction to music business, management and entrepreneurship; A&R and music development; brand and music marketing; music and the law – IP and copyright management; events; and touring.

Registration will begin on 22 March and the programme will start on 3 July.

Music Ally is a global leader in digital learning for the music industry. Its clients include tech giants like Apple, Amazon and Spotify as well as major labels, indies, publishers, and artists and managers.

“Music Ally’s mission is to help the music industry embrace digital platforms and build sustainable careers for artists across the globe via its reports, training, e-learning, research, conference events, hands-on work marketing global artists as well as with partnerships like this,” iManage Africa said.

Last year, iManage Africa partnered with Sterling Bank to introduce the music business academy, which saw the bank sponsor 25 individuals living in Nigeria.

The academy provided curriculum and modules led by key entertainment industry players and executives from around the world, including Archie Davis (senior vice-president of marketing at RCA), Piriye Isokrari (founder of Aristokrat Group), Wiseman Qinani Ngubo (CEO of CAPASSO), Iredumare Opeyemi (head of legal and partnership for MTN Group), Uche Briggs (brand transformation lead at Diageo) and Adaora Mbelu (founder of Lumination Global Network).