The Academy has reached agreements with Ministries of Culture and key partners in the Middle East and Africa to develop a framework to strengthen the Academy’s presence and services in these rapidly expanding music regions.
Senior consultant to the President and CEO of the Recording Academy (Grammys), Akosua Dentaa Amoateng, announced the news on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, on her X account.
Akosua Dentaa wrote; “As a senior consultant to the President and CEO of the Recording Academy (Grammys), we have been working behind the scenes for this historic moment. Over the past year and a half, I have had the privilege of working with the Grammys team to make this vision a reality with my brothers.
“I am incredibly thankful to be part of this historic milestone in the global expansion of the Recording Academy. Thank you @harveymasonjr for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity!”
Finally, the news is out – Grammy Africa! 💃🏾🕺🏾🎶
— Lady Dentaa Amoateng MBE (@Dentaa_show) June 12, 2024
As a senior consultant to the President and CEO of the Recording Academy (Grammys), we have been working behind the scenes for this historic moment. Over the past year and a half, I have had the privilege of working with the… pic.twitter.com/QtP0HdveT6
Following two years of travel throughout the African continent, listening sessions, high-level briefings, tours, demonstrations, and direct access to the government ministries and music creators spearheading innovation in these markets, this development has been finalized by the Academy’s leaders.
The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Ministry of Sports, Arts, and Culture in South Africa, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and the Ministries of Culture in Kenya, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and Nigeria are among the organizations with whom the Academy collaborates as well as sign MOUs with the Ivory Coast and Ghana.
This collaboration will present the Academy the opportunity to explore several key initiatives, including:
- Championing music creators at all levels, providing them with a platform and advocacy.
- Empowering creators through enhanced training. Through its online learning platform, GRAMMY GO, the Academy will look to provide educational programs and resources specifically tailored to the needs of music creators in these regions.
- Producing original content that celebrates the rich musical heritage and dynamic emerging scenes of Africa and the Middle East.
- Enhancing support for existing members. Cross-cultural learnings will benefit all music creators, and a presence in these rapidly growing music regions would provide numerous benefits to the Recording Academy’s current and future members.
- Advocating for strong Intellectual Property (IP) legislation and protections for music creators.
- Fueling the music economy by collaborating with partners to develop and strengthen the creative economy in Africa and the Middle East.
- As a cornerstone of this initiative, the Academy will publish a series of reports, highlighting the Academy’s research and insights into these music markets.
