NEFCISA
NEFCISA

The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) is proud of its partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) as a Strategic Implementing Partner (SIP) for its Social Employment Fund (SEF). Through this collaboration, MIAF is running a national programme that is creating jobs, addressing skills gaps, and strengthening South Africa's creative industries — in line with the SEF's overarching goal to generate work for the common good and build community value through employment, social contribution, and inclusive economic participation. Operating under the banner NEFCISA (National Employment Facility for Creative Industries in South Africa), the initiative is recruiting and training participants, matching them with host organisations, and has already placed 1 500 workers across the country — surpassing its original target of 1 000. NEFCISA is delivered through a network of 20 host organisations spanning five provinces, who are actively hosting participants and contributing to work for the common good across South Africa's creative and cultural industries. Key Objectives: Support employment and entrepreneurship in the creative industries. Offer skills development and training programmes. Foster partnerships between public and private creative sectors. Promote South African creativity at both provincial and national levels Foster community development through social contribution.

ACCES
ACCES

ACCES Conference and Showcase Festival is Africa's leading music industry gathering, bringing together the people shaping the future of the continent's music business. Artists, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, policymakers and cultural leaders from across Africa and around the world come to ACCES to build partnerships, exchange ideas, discover talent and create new business opportunities. Since its launch in 2017, ACCES has become the continent's premier platform for professional exchange and music market development. Combining a high-level conference with a curated showcase festival, networking, exhibitions and industry programmes, ACCES offers a unique space where creativity meets business and where African music connects with the global industry.

Gender@Work
Gender@Work

Music In Africa Gender @ Work is a three-year training programme aimed at upskilling and increasing the participation of female professionals in the African music sector. Launched by the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) in April 2019, the programme is connected to the MIAF’s ACCES music conference – a pan-African event held in a different African country every year. This connection enables the programme to reach new participants in a different African country every year. The programme marks the beginning of a more concerted effort by the Foundation to support the participation and inclusion of women in all facets of its programmes and the music sector in Africa as a whole. Over the three years, the programme will aim to address gender imbalances in the sector through training, lobbying, facilitating knowledge exchange and dialogues that foster the interest of women. The broader objectives of the programme are to: Provide industry training for women on critical music industry skills, focusing on: Stage management Electronic music production and recording Music business management Technical knowledge Provide an opportunity for both professional and aspiring women to benefit from the Music In Africa network and its broad range of activities in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Provide a solution-based platform in the form of a round table at ACCES with a view to identify challenges, discuss opportunities and lobby for the interests of female practitioners. Offer participants the opportunity to benefit from programmes offered by MIAF’s partners. Increase access to educational materials. Integrate participants in the broader ACCES programme to maximise experience and exposure to the industry. Record and present training materials on the www.musicinafrica.net, including but not limited to tutorials, templates and other best-practice materials. Communicate women-based themes that support the initiatives and messages of the programme. MAIN TRAINING ACTIVITIES Training in first country (Ghana): In the first year, participants will be trained on all aspects of stage management by a team of experienced stage managers from 10 to 17 November 2019. The programme will offer robust classroom training as well as practical, hands-on training in which participants will also be given the opportunity to manage various aspects of the ACCES performance programme. Training in second country: The second training iteration will take place at ACCES 2020 when the programme will diversify its course to include music production lessons and training on other music business topics. A round-table platform will also be introduced to coincide with the ACCES programme. Training in third country: The third training iteration will take place at ACCES 2021 in a different country, offering an advanced course. HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?  As a participant, facilitator or trainer: The programme enrolls up to 12 trainees every year. All opportunities are advertised publicly on this website, and will be added to this page. Please keep checking this page for new calls (below under UPDATES & CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES). As a partner Please contact Claire Metais at [email protected]. APPLY The call for applications for 2020 will be announced soon. The Music In Africa Gender @ Work programme is made possible with the support of the Prince Claus Fund, Siemens Stiftung and Goethe-Institut.

Sound Connects Fund
Sound Connects Fund

For cultural and creative practitioners and organisations operating in southern Africa, access to funding remains a major challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a massive impact on government policy, spending and the economy in general, and has seen spending on culture being moved further down the list of priorities. Further, the cultural and creative industries repeatedly cite four main areas where investment is needed for growth, which are increased visibility, mobility including access to new markets, finance and support structures.

Instrument Building And Repair Project
Instrument Building And Repair Project

Experience the Vibrations African Instruments Exhibition online in 3D

News

WMG takes stake in TuStreams in Latin music expansion

15 Apr 2026 - 11:24

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Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced a minority investment in independent music company TuStreams, alongside a broader partnership aimed at expanding its presence in the growing Música Mexicana market.

Warner Music Latin America and ADA president Alejandro Duque.

Under the agreement, WMG will act as the global distribution partner for TuStreams’ catalogue and future releases. The companies will also collaborate on artist signings, A&R and creative development, with a focus on supporting emerging talent.

TuStreams, founded in 2019 by Tony Larios, operates across digital distribution, artist services and development. The company has been involved in the rise of Música Mexicana and contributed to the success of acts including Grupo Firme. It has since expanded into other Latin genres such as reggaeton and pop.

Warner Music Latin America and ADA president Alejandro Duque said the partnership reflects the company’s focus on the genre’s growth.

“TuStreams is a force at the centre of one of the most culturally significant movements in music today,” Duque said. “Música Mexicana is a global priority for us—it’s one of the fastest-growing and most impactful genres worldwide. This partnership deepens our commitment to investing in the leaders of the movement.”

He added that the agreement would combine TuStreams’ artist development capabilities with WMG’s global distribution network.

“Our role is to provide the global muscle, taking the incredible roster that Tony and his team have built and plugging it into our worldwide distribution and marketing network,” Duque said.

Larios described the deal as a step towards expanding the company’s international reach.

“This move is all about levelling up. We’ve built a powerhouse at TuStreams, and Warner Music Group is coming in as a strategic partner to help us scale faster and farther than we ever could alone,” he said.

“Our artists now get the best of both worlds, they keep the independent hustle and culture that defines TuStreams, while gaining access to Warner’s global infrastructure to take their music to every corner of the world.”

He added that the partnership would also focus on future talent development.

“Together, we’re creating the most attractive home for independent artists, where they can access major-label reach without losing their identity,” Larios said.

The deal comes as major labels continue to invest in regional genres with global growth potential, with Música Mexicana emerging as one of the fastest-expanding segments in the international music market.

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