Devan Dewalt

Africa’s music industry is no longer on the sidelines. We are now front and center in the global music economy so if you’re an artist, executive, or entrepreneur in this space, this is the time to pay attention. Why? 📈 Africa’s music industry is currently valued at over $10 billion. And each single year, millions of Africans are getting online faster than anywhere else in the world. It is estimated that by the end of 2025, more than half of the continent should be active online. This shift means one thing: millions of new listeners would be entering the streaming economy for the first time. But that’s not even the biggest news. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is opening up all 54 African countries into a single market. Imagine the possibilities of a connected Africa where music, culture, and commerce move faster across borders. What this means for artists: 🌍 More fans. 💸 More investment. 🚀 More global visibility. And the big players are not sleeping on this, they saw it coming with 🔹 Universal buying into Mavin. 🔹 Warner acquiring Africori, which is one of Africa’s top distributors. 🔹 And Sony backing music tech startups across the continent. All these moves point to one fact that Africa is no longer a “developing” music market. We’re becoming a priority. So whether you’re a rising talent or already building your brand, don’t wait to be discovered, start positioning yourself now for what’s coming. Because the African music industry is not just growing. It’s exploding. And those who understand what’s ahead will lead the future. Are you preparing for that future? #MusicBusiness #AfricaRising #MusicEconomy #CreativeAfrica #Afrobeats #ArtistDevelopment #StreamingEconomy #MazeMedia #TalentManagement #MusicInAfrica #MusicGrowth #LinkedInCreators #AfCFTA

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On the sidelines of Google AI Media Roundtable & Project Showcase held in Accra, Ghana from July 23–25, I had an opportunity to speak one-on-one with James Manyika for The Africa Report. Manyika, a Senior Vice President for Research, Labs, and Technology & Society at Google, told me that AI does not significantly impact energy and infrastructure in Africa, and that Africa needs to develop its own energy and broadband infrastructure to leverage digital potential. He also said Google is committed to building a universally useful and inclusive AI technology for everyone globally, including the African continent, evidenced by many African languages incorporated by Google Translate. That, and more, in this piece detailing how Africa can benefit from AI. Otherwise, without addressing these disparities, AI risks becoming yet another tool for global inequality. Read more:- https://lnkd.in/dSQWzdWr

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