Music Business Academy (MBA) for Africa has renewed its partnership with global distribution and artist and label services company The Orchard as the academy launches the 2023 Edition of The MBA Talent Project. The MBA Talent Project is the practical aspect of the annual MBA For Africa program geared towards developing the next generation of music industry executives in Africa. The partnership with The Orchard will give ten emerging African artists and the 2023 cohort of the annual MBA For Africa program an opportunity to learn key tenets of the global music business through practical, hands-on experience. The students will have the opportunity to apply what they are being taught in real time as they write, produce, record, market, and release an album which will be distributed by The Orchard.
Founder of the Music Business Academy For Africa, Godwin Tom said, “This partnership with the Orchard helps us ensure the students get a chance to practise all the things they learn from the programme. It also gives new, unsigned, and amazing artists a chance to move their careers forward, to learn about the business, and engage potential representation. This partnership not only means a lot to the team behind the MBA for Africa, but it will change lives and that is what we are here for. This year will be even more exciting!”
The Orchard will invest in developing the 2023 edition of The MBA Talent Project, helping to steer students’ journeys from music creation to release. The Orchard will also participate in the 2023 edition of the MBA For Africa program by offering education and mentoring to the students, providing marketing and promotional support for the release of the album and distributing the final output.
Vice President, Africa at The Orchard, Ben Oldfield said, “The African continent is rich with an enormous talent pool of emerging artists. As The Orchard continues to grow its presence across the region, a key focus is to discover, support, and develop new talent. Via our ongoing partnership with MBA, we can introduce these artists to a global audience, and give them access to brand-building resources that will help grow and sustain a fanbase.”
The Open Call for artists to join the 2023 MBA Talent Project starts today and runs through June 30. Interested parties should submit music HERE. Application is open to all unsigned African artists. Selections will begin on July 3rd, with The Talent Project beginning in earnest on August 1. The program will run through March 2024, culminating in the album’s release and class graduation. The top 40 talents will be selected by MBA’s A&R team, followed by a vote for the top 20 by the general public via The MBA Talent Project’s website. Final voting for the top ten winners will be done by the students of the 2023 cohort of the Music Business Academy for Africa.
In 2022, the MBA Talent Project gave 290 students from over 35 cities across Africa and other continents the opportunity to work with 8 African artists to create, market, promote, and release the Fuel & Flames album, film over 3 music videos, execute music recording contracts, and more.
Music business enthusiasts or artists interested in starting or advancing their careers in the music industry, or those just curious about how the African music industry works can register for the 2023 edition of the Music Business Academy (MBA) for Africa program at www.mbaforafrica.com.
About MBA For Africa: The MBA For Africa is an initiative of the Creative Industries Initiative For Africa (CIIFA), in partnership with Music Ally, and Dr. Carlos Chirinos of the Music Business program at the New York University, with support from Youtube Music and VFD Microfinance Bank. The Music Business Academy for Africa began as an internship scheme in 2017 before evolving into a talent management training program, and ultimately the full music business education initiative that launched in 2020. For more information, visit www.mbaforafrica.com
About The Orchard: The Orchard is a full-service music distribution company operating in more than 45 cities worldwide. The Orchard’s comprehensive artist & label services offering harnesses innovative technology, transparent data analysis, and expertise to reach fans and grow audiences. Offerings include digital and physical sales and marketing, advertising, brand partnerships, rights management, video monetization, collaborator splits and royalty accounting, publishing administration, neighboring rights, and more. Championed by an exceptional community of music lovers and experts, The Orchard empowers creators and entrepreneurs to grow and adapt in the dynamic, global industry. For further information, visit www.theorchard.com.
