Every Friday, New Music Friday has become a key moment for music lovers across Africa. It’s a weekly section on African Leadership Magazine dedicated to promoting the culture, growth, and contributions of the African music industry to the continent, while giving fans the chance to hear fresh tracks from their favourite artists.
As the African music industry continues to expand, set to grow by 10.68% from 2022 to 2027, weekly release schedules like New Music Friday help sustain this momentum. This growth is not just an exciting trend but an opportunity for artists to connect with their audience and increase their chances of success in a rapidly changing, digital-first world.
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With music streaming revenue expected to surge from $92.9 million in 2021 to $314.6 million by 2026, streaming platforms are focusing more on new releases, ensuring that the visibility artists gain translates directly into higher streams, greater fan engagement, and increased financial rewards for all involved.
Growth Backed by Strong Statistics
The numbers supporting the growth of Africa’s music industry are compelling:
• Streaming revenue is forecast to more than triple from 2021 to 2026, driven by the rising popularity of digital music consumption.
• The overall music streaming market is expected to grow by 6.66% from 2025 to 2027, with a projected market volume of $513.2 million. This reveals the significant potential for artists to monetise their music more effectively.
The Challenges Facing African Artists
While the African music industry shows immense potential, several challenges continue to hinder its growth, but one of the major challenges is visibility:
• Lack of Visibility: Despite the increasing global recognition of African talent, many artists still struggle to gain the exposure they need to reach wider audiences. Without proper visibility, even the most talented musicians can remain largely unknown beyond their local scenes. This lack of exposure limits their ability to monetise their work, secure brand partnerships, or even gain access to larger markets.
• Limited Access to Funding: Many artists struggle to secure the financial backing needed to create and promote their music. Lack of awareness about the value of African music among investors often leads to limited opportunities for funding.
• Infrastructure Issues: Inadequate infrastructure, such as subpar recording studios, unreliable internet access, and a lack of performance spaces, makes it difficult for artists to produce, distribute, and promote their work effectively.
• Intellectual Property Protection: Protecting their intellectual property is a major concern for many artists. Without strong protections, their work is often exploited without proper compensation.
• Genre Fragmentation: The vast diversity of musical styles across Africa can lead to fragmentation, where artists struggle to collaborate or connect with broader audiences due to differences in genres and cultural influences.
Solutions for Growth and Visibility for Africa’s Music Industry
• Increased Exposure for African Artists
Platforms like New Music Friday regularly feature African artists, ensuring they get global visibility and exposure. This weekly spotlight helps African musicians reach a broader, international audience, giving them a powerful tool to elevate their presence. Including African music in these playlists boosts artist recognition across different regions and attracts new fans worldwide.
• Celebrating African Music Culture
New Music Friday plays a key role in celebrating and promoting the diversity of African music culture. Through curated playlists, the platform regularly highlights different African genres, from Afrobeat to highlife, gospel, and beyond, showcasing the rich musical tapestry of the continent. This not only elevates African artists but also brings global attention to the cultural depth of African music, encouraging appreciation and respect for its various forms.
• Promoting Latest Song Releases
Every week, New Music Friday helps to push African artists’ latest songs to the forefront. By featuring new releases in its weekly updates, the platform ensures that these songs gain traction in both the local and international markets. This promotion is essential for increasing streams, fan engagement, and, consequently, revenue generation for the artists involved.
• Increasing Streaming Revenue
The visibility provided by New Music Friday directly translates into higher streaming revenue for African artists. By featuring their music on a widely-followed platform, the song plays and streaming counts increase significantly, which in turn boosts the artists’ income. As streaming continues to grow, this visibility is key for African musicians to capture more streams, both locally and globally.
• Supporting Emerging and Independent Artists
Platforms like New Music Friday actively feature emerging and independent African artists, giving them the exposure they need to gain momentum. Independent artists without the support of major labels are often able to break into the industry by having their work featured on this platform. This consistent visibility helps them build loyal fan bases and grow their careers over time.
• Facilitating Global Industry Recognition
Being featured on New Music Friday opens the door to global industry recognition for African artists. The platform provides them with a direct pathway to the international music scene, leading to opportunities such as global tours, festival appearances, and brand partnerships. It helps African music solidify its place on the world stage, encouraging collaboration with global music industry leaders and further expanding its reach.
Other ways to to Strengthen Africa’s Music Industry
To ensure continued growth and visibility in the African music industry, several strategies must be pursued:
1. Investment in Infrastructure: Governments and private investors need to fund modern recording studios, performance venues, and sound engineering schools. This would allow African artists to produce high-quality music and perform on bigger platforms, boosting their international appeal.
2. Stronger Intellectual Property Protection: Advocating for better legal frameworks to protect artists’ intellectual property is crucial. Educating artists about copyright laws and how to safeguard their work will help ensure they receive fair compensation.
3. Streamlined Funding Opportunities: Creating accessible funding options such as grants, crowdfunding platforms, and artist-in-residence programmes will support independent and emerging artists, particularly those focusing on African culture and innovation.
4. Community Engagement: Artists who engage with their local communities and share their creative processes build a deeper connection with their audience. This connection helps to foster a loyal fanbase, which translates to increased streams and revenue.
5. Supportive Government Policies: Governments must play an active role in creating a favourable environment for the music industry. Offering tax incentives, grants, and regulatory frameworks that promote fairness and transparency will allow the sector to grow and thrive.
Latest Releases for the Week
This week’s New Music Friday showcases an array of exciting releases that highlight the dynamism of the African music landscape:
• Qing Madi – “Akanchawa”
• DJ Kaywise, Black Sherif & Buju Banton – “Green Light”
• Qing Madi x Colors – “Favorite”
• Psycho V.I.C Rhymez – “Veronica”
• Rose May Alaba ft. Tar1q – “Dance”
• Anti World Gangsters – “Nothing Changed EP”
• Masterkraft – “Stay”
• Gambo – “Miracle”
These releases reflect the talent and creativity flourishing in the African music industry. New Music is an essential pillar of visibility for the African music industry, providing artists with recognition and revenue. As the market continues to evolve, innovative strategies, equitable opportunities, community engagement, and the right tools for visibility like New Music Friday can continue to serve as a launchpad for artists.
