- Recording Academy expands to support music creators in Africa and Middle East.
- Agreements established with 7 countries to support music creators.
- Collaboration to provide education, content, and IP advocacy.
- First phase of global expansion, coinciding with Latin GRAMMY's 25th anniversary.
The Recording Academy, the organization behind the prestigious GRAMMY Awards, has announced its plans to expand its efforts to support music creators in Africa and the Middle East.
According to the announcement, the Academy has established agreements with Ministries of Culture and key stakeholders across the Middle East and Africa to collaborate on a framework that will bolster the Academy’s presence and services in these rapidly growing music regions.
Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, expressed his excitement about the development, stating that music is one of humanity’s greatest natural resources and emphasizing the importance of supporting music creators with resources and opportunities.
The decision comes after the Academy’s leaders spent two years traveling through the African region, participating in listening sessions, and receiving briefings and insights from governmental ministries and music creators.
The Academy is working with the Ministries of Culture in Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi, as well as the Rwanda Development Board and the Ministry of Sports, Arts, and Culture in South Africa. Additionally, the Academy has signed memoranda of understanding with Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
The collaboration will enable the Academy to explore several key initiatives, including championing music creators, providing educational programs and resources, producing original content, enhancing support for existing members, advocating for strong intellectual property legislation, and fueling the music economy.
The Academy will also publish a series of reports highlighting its research and insights into these music markets. This expansion into the Middle East and Africa is the first phase of the Academy’s plans to support music creators abroad, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards.
The move has been welcomed by stakeholders, including Ghanaian creative entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng, who expressed excitement about the development and thanked the GRAMMYs team for the opportunity to be part of this historic milestone.
