Recording Academy Launches Strategic Expansion to Support Music Creators in Africa and Middle East

The Recording Academy, the organization behind the prestigious Grammy Awards, announced on June 11 a global expansion plan focused on supporting music creators in Africa and the Middle East. This initiative is designed to provide vital educational resources, advocate for intellectual property (IP) rights, and celebrate the rich musical heritage of these regions.

To facilitate this expansion, the Recording Academy has established partnerships with government ministries and cultural entities in Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, memorandums of understanding have been signed with Ghana and Ivory Coast, further extending the Academy’s regional reach.

Through these collaborations, the Academy will implement several key initiatives. These include offering creators a platform for advocacy, delivering training programs such as the online learning platform GRAMMY GO, and producing original content tailored to the needs of local music communities.

Creators in Africa and the Middle East will also benefit from cross-cultural learning opportunities facilitated by the Recording Academy. The organization will continue its advocacy for robust IP legislation and protections, aiming to strengthen the legal frameworks that safeguard creators’ rights in these fast-growing music markets.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. emphasized the importance of this expansion, stating, “This is exciting because music is one of humanity’s greatest natural resources. It is critical that the people who dedicate themselves to creating music have support, resources and opportunities, no matter where they are from.”

Echoing this sentiment, Recording Academy President Panos A. Panay remarked, “Our expansion efforts into these fast-growing regions reflect our commitment to fostering a truly global music community, where creators at every stage of their careers and from every corner of the world have the resources and support they need to thrive.”

As part of its commitment to transparency and knowledge sharing, the Recording Academy plans to publish a series of reports highlighting research and insights into the music markets of Africa and the Middle East.

This expansion coincides with the Academy’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards, scheduled for November in Miami. Notably, the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs held in Seville, Spain, marked the first-ever international GRAMMY Awards show, underscoring the Academy’s global outreach.

Further reflecting its dedication to diverse musical expressions, the Academy introduced the inaugural Best African Music Performance GRAMMY category at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards. This category recognizes songs that incorporate unique local expressions from across the African continent.

Leaders from partner countries have expressed strong support for the initiative. Paul Pacifico, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s The Music Commission, stated, “We eagerly anticipate the benefits we know this partnership will bring to our music community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the opportunities it will deliver for Saudi music to take its place on the global stage and contribute to a more globally representative and vibrant music industry.”

Similarly, Ababu Namwamba of Kenya’s EGH highlighted the significance of the collaboration: “It should be no surprise that Kenya is delighted to be among the four champions of this effort, alongside our sister nations of Rwanda, Nigeria and South Africa. This is a historic opportunity to hoist high and celebrate Africanacity through artistic and cultural expression, while fostering innovation, creativity, fraternity, and solidarity for African peoples in Africa and beyond.”