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Producer, Juls invited to join Grammy’s Recording Academy voting class 2020

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British-Ghanaian record producer, Juls (known in real life as Julian Nicco-Annan) is among the 2,321 people invited to ioin The Recording Academy.

Reacting to the news, Juls tweeted: “For the culture… any opportunity to push our music and our culture to the masses all over the world I’ll take it!”

Today, the Recording Academy extended membership invitations to more than 2,300 established music professionals from wide-ranging backgrounds, genres, and disciplines. The invitation is a reflection of their important contributions to music and the potential to influence progressive changes within the music industry.

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Juls is best known for the production of songs like ”Bankulize” and “Skin Tight” by Mr Eazi , “Feel Alright” by Show Dem Camp,” Rudebwoi Love” by Stonebwoy and ”Gwarn” by Burna Boy. He has collaborated with labels like BBnz Live, Toko Beatz, Stereofly Records, Cosmic Harmony, and Lost Ones.

In July 2019, he released his album, ‘Colour’ featuring a range of African and UK talent, including: Worlasi, Kojey Radical, Ms Banks, Kida Kudz, Pa Salieu, Oxlade, Falz, Sweetie Irie, Big Zeeks, Mr Eazi, Agent Sasco (Assassin), Sway Clarke, Knucks, Ché Lingo, Xamvolo, Tiggs Da Author, Santi, and more.

Juls was born in Hackney, East London, to parents who moved from Ghana to Britain in the late 1970s.He grew up in both the UK and Ghana, where he attended Akosombo International School.

The 2020 class of invitees is 48 percent female, 21 percent African American/African descent, eight percent Hispanic, and three percent Asian American and Pacific Islander. The representation of this class also spans ages, genre and regions. The Recording Academy’s current membership is 26 percent female and 25 percent from traditionally underrepresented communities. It also includes Lil Nas X, Gunna and Victoria Monet .

Kelley Purcell, the academy’s senior director, member outreach, notes that, unlike last year, the academy had a full year to work on its member class. Last year, in the first year of its new, peer-review membership model, it had just seven months, from the launch in November 2018 to the announcement of the 2019 invitations on June 6, 2019.

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This year’s “freshman class,” as the academy calls it, is 48% female (compared to 49% in last year’s freshman class invites), 21% African American/African descent (compared to 26%), 8% Hispanic (compared to 7%), 3% Asian American/Pacific Islander/Asian (same as last year) and 51% people who are age 39 or younger (same as last year).

Some of those invited did not disclose their demographic details. On gender, 3% did not disclose. On ethnicity, 13% did not disclose. On age (possibly the most sensitive topic in a youth-dominated industry), a whopping 25% did not disclose.

Women account for 26% of the academy’s overall membership, not just the freshman class (same as last year). People from traditionally-underrepresented communities account for 25%, up a point from last year’s 24%. People who are age 39 or younger account for 25%, down from 29% last year.

These stats suggest that it’s hard to make an impact in the overall numbers.“It’s definitely hard but not impossible,” says Harvey Mason, Jr., the academy’s chair and interim president/CEO. “We’re headed in the right direction. We just have to maintain it. We have to continue to work on it and look at other ways to improve and increase it and get to the right numbers.”

The Academy created a 90-minute video, “Your Academy: Welcoming the 2020 New Member Class,” in which both current members, such as John Legend and Yolanda Adams, and 2020 invitees, including Monet and Ozuna, discuss membership. The discussion, held on Zoom on June 24, was moderated by Justin Joseph, Grammy.com editor-in-chief. The roundtable debuted today on GRAMMY.com.

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Some of the comments in the video are provocative. “We still need to be more diverse,” Legend says. “The only way that changes is if we’re recruiting more people to bring an influx of diversity into the academy. Rather than throw up our hands and say, ‘It’s going to be a stodgy, old white guy organization, we’re the people that are going to change it.’”

Legend amplified on that point, noting, “As much as we all complain about who won the Grammy this year for this or that, and how we’re not being represented in the right way, we literally can change it by being thereby showing up, by telling our collaborators to show up and be there. As locked in as so many of these things feel, they actually are dynamic and can be changed, but we have to literally be part of that change.”

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‘Kuami Eugene is alive and receiving treatment’ – Lynx Entertainment issues statement

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Following news of Ghanaian musician Kuami Eugene’s involvement in a car accident, Lynx Entertainment, the record label representing him, has issued an official press statement. (more…)

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Ghana International Trade Fair Center on the eviction and demolition of Fantasy Dome

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The Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited has dismantled the “Fantasy Dome,” owned by Fantasy Entertainment, which has been on the trade fair site since January 2018, to pave way for developers to complete the ongoing “Ghana International Trade Fair Center Development Project.”

The dismantled facility will be available to its owners for it to be relocated.

The tenancy agreement between owners of the Fantasy Dome and the Trade Fair Company Limited expired on 31 December 2023. Since then, all efforts by the management of the Trade Fair Company Limited to get “Fantasy Entertainment” to remove the “Fantasy Dome” from the Trade Fair site has proved futile.

The CEO of Fantasy Entertainment has stated in a Saturday March 17th interview that he has an injunction, but the Trade Fair Company Limited has VEHEMENTLY DENIED any such injunction. In fact the company states that it has not been served with any court processes and no injunction was served on the day of the demolition.

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Ironically, access to the portion of the site where the “Fantasy Dome” is situated at the Trade Fair site is vital for developers to construct the power and water infrastructure for the project as well as the drainage system to serve the new Ghana International Trade Fair Center. The dome has hampered the progress of these works for approximately 12 months.

To this end, the Trade Fair Company Limited on Saturday, 16 March 2024, embarked on an exercise supervised by the Ghana Police Service with support from the National Security Ministry to take down the “Fantasy Dome” in order for construction works on the Trade Fair site to proceed freely.

Brief background

The Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFCL) was established by an Executive Instrument (EI) in 1960 as a project to facilitate Ghana’s post-independence trade and industrialization drive.

The Executive Instrument 10 acquired a 239.92-acre land for this purpose and to showcase Ghana’s exports with the view to attracting investors into its fledgling economy.

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From its origins in 1960, GTFCL has metamorphosed into a limited liability company strategically positioned to promote and facilitate trade in Ghana.

There have been attempts by successive governments to revive the company through various public-private partnership initiatives. These attempts have focused on redeveloping the entire center under various themes. The current redevelopment project is considered as a core part of President Nana Akufo Addo’s vision to position Ghana as a trade hub for West Africa.

The new Ghana International Trade Fair Center Development Project, when completed, would have a convention and an exhibition center, a technology hub, retail mall, commercial offices, hotel accommodation, and public realm spaces.
Infrastructure works and construction of the major exhibition center are now underway.

It is under the Akufo-Addo government that the company was revived to successfully undertake an aggressive redevelopment of the site. The management and board of directors of the company under this government have worked tirelessly to turn the company into a commercially viable business today and have secured funding from development partners to develop the site.

The new GTFC

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The new Ghana International Trade Fair Center Development Project, when completed, would have a convention and an exhibition center, a technology hub, retail mall, commercial offices, hotel accommodation, and public realm spaces.
Infrastructure works and construction of the major exhibition center are now underway.

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Kuami Eugene Survives Car Crash, Sustains Injuries

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Multiple award-winning Ghanaian singer and songwriter, Eugene Kwame Marfo, professionally known as Kuami Eugene narrowly escaped a near-fatal accident when his car rammed into a tipper truck on the night of Sunday, March 17, 2024. (more…)

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Ghana’s Blitz Bazawule’s ‘The Color Purple’ dominates 2024 NAACP Image Awards

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“The Color Purple” a film directed by Ghanaian filmmaker Blitz Bazawule dominated at the 55th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday night, taking home four accolades including outstanding motion picture. (more…)

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Mix Master Garzy’s 2MG Music foundation inspires hope through music on Ghana’s Independence Day

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Ghana Independence Day holds great significance for the nation, but for 2MG Music Foundation, it became a day of deeper meaning as they embarked on a journey of compassion at Orthopedic Training Centre in Nsawam.

Benjamin Garzy Mensah, popularly known as Mix Master Garzy is the Founder and CEO of 2MG Music Foundation, an NGO based in Ghana which is also affiliated with the 2MG Music record label.

Their inspiring mission of “Touching Lives through Music: was definitely achieved at the OTC Camp. On Ghana Independence Day, the music foundation arrived at the hospital loaded with instruments, ready to uplift spirits and bring smiles to the patients.

As the musicians played, OTC came alive with the soothing sounds of music. Children had the chance to showcase their talents through dance and song, creating a fun filled inclusive atmosphere. Performing artists rallied to show their unwavering support for the event such as Niashun, Akua Music and Mr Drew and the Band Masters who held the fort for the live entertainment.

The music served as a welcome distraction for the OTC members, reminding them of joy and resilience amidst their physical challenges. Each song imparted a message of hope, showing them, they were not alone in their journey towards healing. Beyond melodies, they forged connections and touched hearts, leaving a lasting impression on children, families and staff. Inspired, they pledged to continue spreading joy through music.

In commemorating Ghana Independence Day at OTC, 2MG Music Foundation embarked on a meaningful journey of compassion and solidarity. Through music, they brought smiles and hope to all, reminding us of the importance of supporting one another in times of need.

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K.K. Kabobo passes on after battling liver disease

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News reaching Ameyaw Debrah Media is that Renowned Highlife musician, Kwabena Kwakye Kabobo, professionally known as K. K. Kabobo has passed on to glory. (more…)

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