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Rema announced as Apple Music Up Next Artist

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Apple Music today announced Nigerian Afropop star Rema as the latest addition to its Up Next program, Apple Music’s monthly artist initiative geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent.

The global singer and rapper is at the forefront of Nigerian pop music, with a youth-led sound connecting across all corners of Africa and beyond. Since the debut of his Rema – EP in March 2019, Rema has become the #18 World Artist across Apple Music based on lifetime plays. To date, his music has been featured across Apple Music playlists like Afrobeats HitsToday’s HitsFuture HitsAgendaShazam Discovery Top 50Home Office DJBreaking R&BThe New AfricaIt’s Lit!, and many more. Across Apple Music’s Beats 1 global livestream, Rema has been featured on major programs, including Joe Kay’s Soulection and Kendall Jenner’s ZAZA WORLD RADIO, and has been Shazamed in over 180 countries.
“Getting recognised by Apple as their Up Next artist is a huge deal for me,” said Rema. “I want to take Afrobeats to the world and now the world is listening, it’s an honour. This has come during a time when across the world people are uniting and coming together to fight for justice. This generation, my generation, are standing up and speaking out and it’s amazing to see, I am standing right beside them.”
“Rema embodies the youth movement emerging from the continent of Africa,” said Apple Music’s Global Editorial Head of Hip-Hop and R&B Ebro Darden. “His voice has carried him from Benin City, Nigeria to Barack Obama’s 2019 Summer Playlist. He’s been cosigned by Drake and Rihanna and has remixes to his music with Becky G, Matoma and Major Lazer. Rema is a shy, young artist who has managed to capture the world’s attention with his art. We are excited to amplify him further and can’t wait to see what he’ll do with his platform next.”
Rema’s Up Next short was shot remotely in Lagos by the artist himself on iPhone 11 Pro and comes to Apple Music exclusively today. In the short, Rema opens up, talking about his earliest introductions to music through church groups and sharing how faith helped him overcome tragedy. “The goal is to take Africa to the world, if the world can’t come to Africa,” Rema tells Apple Music. “That’s the plan.”
In an interview with Apple Music’s Darden, also available today, Rema discusses the origins of his genre-bending sound, the cultural significance of Lagos, and receiving the presidential seal of approval from Obama.
Watch the Apple Music Up Next short HERE
Check out the Apple Music interview with Ebro Darden HERE
The latest music from Rema, along with that of his Up Next peers, is available now on the Apple Music Up Next Playlist.
Up Next is Apple Music’s monthly artist program geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising star talent. Each month, Apple Music’s editorial team selects an artist to promote, utilizing the full force of the platform to raise awareness of the artist to its growing global audience of music fans. The program includes an Apple Music short film shot entirely on iPhone 11 Pro introducing the artist, an interview with one of our Beats 1 anchors, a late night TV performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and more.  The vast Up Next roster of past talent includes Grammy-nominated and critically lauded talent like 6lack, Daniel Caesar, H.E.R., Greta Van Fleet, Khalid, Amy Shark, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Claudio, Sigrid, Mr Eazi, Stefflon Don, Bad Bunny, Juice WLRD, Bazzi, Jax Jones, NCT 127, Summer Walker, Tierra Whack, Dean Lewis, Pink Sweat$, Koffee, Megan Thee Stallion, Burna Boy, Clairo, Lunay, Jessie Reyez, Orville Peck, Victoria Monét, Ingrid Andress, Conan Gray and Don Toliver.
In 2020, Apple Music’s Up Next artist program has expanded into its fourth year and includes a curated companion Up Next playlist featuring a dynamic class of new and emerging artists, thoughtfully hand-picked by Apple Music editors from around the world. The playlist is genre and country agnostic and represents a line-up of artists our global editors are passionate about and eager to expose to a larger audience. As the newest induction into Apple Music’s Up Next roster, Rema joins some of today’s most exciting and promising artists and will serve as the official Up Next playlist cover star to be spotlighted throughout the month. Add the Apple Music Up Next Playlist into your listening rotation today.
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Spotify announces multi-year investment for Ghana’s emerging artists through its Creator Equity Fund

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L-R Sandy Alibo, Phiona Okumu, Joe Hadley, Ansah
L-R Sandy Alibo, Phiona Okumu, Joe Hadley, Ansah

Global streaming platform Spotify today announced a donation to Vibrate Space, a non-profit organization helping young Ghanaian music entrepreneurs with the tools and skills they need to thrive in the industry, from its Creator Equity Fund to support emerging artists in Ghana.

Vibrate Space, which is operated by Surf Ghana in Accra, is a community recording studio and music business programme, offering education, mentorship and space to young Ghanaian artists, so that they can create, connect and collaborate.

Spotify first partnered with Vibrate in September 2022 with a donation that facilitated the launch of the studio. Over the past six months, Vibrate has registered over 200 studio bookings, and hosted many more creators for events and classes.

To help Vibrate achieve its robust plans to grow and support the creative economy in Ghana, Spotify is making a sizeable donation from its Creator Equity Fund which will be administered over multiple years.

Speaking about the partnership, Phiona Okumu, Head of Music for Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) said, “Since Spotify’s arrival in Africa five years ago, we have worked to identify opportunities to support artists in ways that speak directly to each of our markets. The partnership with Vibrate allows us to continue supporting emerging artists and cultural entrepreneurs in Ghana in addition to the on-platform work we are doing in the country.”

The most recent donation was announced today at an event at Surf Ghana by Spotify’s Global Head of Artist and Audience partnerships Joe Hadley. “Spotify is proud to continue our efforts to support and uplift creatives with our Creator Equity Fund. I’m excited to share that from that fund we’re announcing a donation to the Vibrate Space in Accra, Ghana. They have been incredible partners to us; continually pouring into the local community and creating a space where artists can come together to grow creatively. We’re looking forward to hearing the music, stories, and success that will come out of Vibrate.”

The donation will be administered over multiple years, enabling the organisation to collaborate with and support even more aspiring young artists who seek to kick-start their careers.

Vibrate’s plans to use the additional funding for artist support include a festival at the space, to be held at the end of the year, supporting artists to put on their own events and establishing a youth hostel, where young people can find affordable, short term accommodation while also experiencing the collaborative and community aspects of Vibrate. The organisation is also looking to establish an artist in residency and exchange programme to fuel creativity, collaboration and cultural exchange, as well as a women’s programme aimed at supporting women’s growth in the industry. They also intend to expand their educational offerings, by extending their highly successful monthly masterclasses for another two years and introducing a three month instrument learning programme, starting with piano lessons and expanding into other instruments.

Supporting Emerging Artists

Founder and director of Surf Ghana, Sandy Alibo said: “ We are happy to be partnered with Spotify. They’re really supportive of the alternative scene and not every brand understands that. We work with young, and emerging artists and creators who are looking to make a mark in the music industry and Spotify is a brand that speaks to young people, and has played a significant role in taking African and Ghanaian music to the world.”

Spotify data shows that fans on Spotify are finding and listening to Ghanaian artists all around the world. For every stream in Ghana of a Ghanaian artist, there are 6 streams all around the world, with top international markets for Ghanaian artists including the USA, UK, Nigeria, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and France.

A number of Ghanaian artists have been beneficiaries of Spotify programmes aimed at showcasing local artists on a global stage and increasing discoverability. These include Black Sherif, who is a Spotify RADAR artist, Amaarae,  Moliy and Gyakie, have both been EQUAL Ambassadors and Kofee Bean is a Fresh Finds artist. Sincerely Accra, a Ghanaian podcast, was also named as one of 13 African podcasts to receive a share of Spotify’s 100,000 USD last year.

Managing Director for Spotify SSA Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy said, “Spotify is constantly seeking new and innovative ways to promote African music, and celebrate and support its creators. We see ourselves as a global platform with a local focus and we really drill down to understand what is happening across the continent, and how we can support both artists and users in those markets. Our partnership with Vibrate is one way that we are doing this in Ghana, but we have plans and projects in place to support artists both on and off platform across the region.”

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Kamala Harris in Ghana: What Akufo-Addo said when asked about LGBTQIA+ legislation in the country

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President Akufo-Addo has stated that for now, he is leaving the proposed bill against LGBTQIA+ persons in Ghana in the hands of parliament, and will only step in once the process is done.   (more…)

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Delete videos defaming my wife or face the law- Mercy Aseidu’s Husband to Kwame Borga

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Nana Badu Agyemang Duah I, Chief of Kunsu in the Ashanti Region and the husband of popular Kumawood actress,  Oheneyere Mercy Aseidu has asked actor Kwame Borga, to immediately delete videos he posted about his wife in response to the allegations he made about Kumawood actresses. (more…)

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Restore Deleted Political Posts on IG– Yul Edochie Urges Funke Akindele 

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Famed Nigerian actor Yul Edochie has advised colleague, Funke Akindele, to restore all the deleted politics-related content on her Instagram account. (more…)

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Mr Logic Blasts Edem Over Political Flyers; Says There Is No Time For Jokes

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Radio personality cum artist manager, Emmanuel Barnes, popularly known as Mr logic in the entertainment industry has express worry and anger following Edem’s parliamentary bid disappointment. (more…)

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VGMA 2023: It Hurts Being Snubbed But Awards Do not Define Me – Eno Barony

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Popular Ghanaian female rapper and singer, Ruth Eno Adjoa Amankwa Adom, known professionally by her stage name Eno Barony, has expressed her disappointment and shock at not being nominated in this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. (more…)

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