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Tedx was one of the coolest experiences of my career thus far. As an artist and creative being able to speak about how the merging of different Afro-Carribean cultures has produced the fastest growing music genre today --Reggaeton-- was an honor. Why? I've been blessed to work on projects with some of the pionners reggae music. Never would I have thought I'd be sitting in a room listening to Ian and Roger Lewis talking about their late friend and colleague Bob Marley. Mind blowing! Never would I thought I'd be standing next to Mykal Rose (Reggaes first Grammy winning artist) having jolly conversation with him. As someone who is a part of the Jamacian diaspora and grew up in Latin America, it's amazing to see how a local music scene in Jamacia grew from the grassroots and was able to inspire muscians to create their own interpretation of reggae-dancehall with their own elements. Thus, I want to say this. Whatever discrepancies (because there are) about who did what or who influenced who are discussions that should be our focus. Whether it's Jamacia, Puerto Rico or Panama, our different music cultures coming together has shook the world. Small countries that has influenced global music and pop culture in a big is not an understatement. Let's celebrate this story with ourselves and to the world. #musicbusiness #musicians #musicmarketing #musicindustry

You can find two of my most recent articles in the newest issue of Spotlight on Business Magazine where I cover Waves End RV Park and the Ship's Company Theatre!

I had the opportunity to present the African music industry for a room of investors at the SuperReturn conference in Cape Town last week, here are my 6 key pointers. Do you think I missed anything? 1. Global trend towards investment in music rights; Google's investment in Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), Blackstone's investments in major catalogues (fx Timberlake and Bieber), industry analysts report a consistent 5-10% annual return on music right funds. 2. Currently only 1% of the global royalties are from Sub Sahara Africa however 15% of the global population are in Sub Sahara Africa, this is presenting a huge growth opportunity as the continent gets online. 3. Africa is the fastest growing music industry in the world with an impressive 34% growth in 2022. IFPI 4. There has been numerous investment and M&A activities across Africa the last couple of years: Chocolate City Music, AFRICORI, YNBL, Ziiki Media, A.I Records and Mavin Records (public rumours). 5. There’s limited reporting and tracking of industry performance, only South Africa is included in official global reports, with that in mind the African music is expected to have a market size of $300m in 2025, an impressive 4x growth from 2021 to 2025. This is still peanuts compared to Korean led by K-POP ($10bn) and LATAM led by Reggaeton ($1.1bn) that Africa is walking in the footsteps of. 6. The unique market structures (or lack of the same) has made it difficult for global music (and movie) streaming services to convert awareness to real traction across key markets in Africa, this requires either (1) a local approach to business model and monetisation or (2) a focus on monetising outside of Africa. (Side note: this is not only the case in Africa but also in India and South East Asia that I'm aware of where especially access and cost of internet is a barrier) Thanks to Niall Naidoo for facilitating the discussion and Derrick Ashong for his unique insights into the music industry as well as a thanks to all the conference participants for intriguing conversations. Mdundo.com

🌍 Bridging the Gap in the Music Industry: A Call for International Collaboration 🌍 In a recent enlightening discussion with Momentual (formerly Music Cities Events) my partner at Africa Rising Music Conference Namakau Socika delved into the critical challenges that South African artists encounter concerning mobility in the music industry. The conversation highlighted the significant influence that international companies wield and the transformative impact they could achieve by supporting initiatives such as mentorship programs and international internships. At the Africa Rising Music Conference, we are deeply committed to these programs, advocating for more involvement from our global counterparts. The goal is to foster equal opportunities for African executives within the global music ecosystem. This endeavor is not merely about providing opportunities; it's about enriching the industry by introducing diverse perspectives and authentic representations of African talent both in the boardroom and on stage. We believe that this collaboration holds a dual benefit. It not only empowers the recipients of these opportunities but also enhances diversity in the workplace, leading to a more inclusive and representative music industry worldwide. Let's unite to create a lasting impact and ensure global representation matches the diversity of music industry audiences. We invite international partners to join us in paving the way for a truly inclusive future. #AfricaToTheWorld #DiversityInMusic #AfricaRisingMusicConference #InternationalCollaboration #ArtistMobility #MusicExecutives #GlobalMusic

We often dream of an idealistic and happy life on our planet, in our country, and in our city, but we always sigh and think that it is a utopia. And none of us seems willing to take action to make this dream a reality! But JazzYYC does! JazzYYC is not just another organization. It's not about making money. It's not about staging fancy concerts for the elite. JazzYYC is all about the young generation of Calgary! This is the core mission of the organization – supporting the youth of Calgary, the future of our city. Across Canada, JazzYYC stands out as the only jazz society that not only organizes festivals but also helps the younger generation access jazz music education. I couldn't find another such organization. Today, sustainability is a buzzword. Everyone claims to be sustainable, even tobacco companies... But true sustainability is actually very rare in any industry. JazzYYC is an excellent example of what sustainability can look like. One model we use at JazzYYC is to organize events in cafes, jazz clubs, and other venues in Calgary, allowing ALL Calgarians to listen to jazz - many of our events are free of charge. Thus, even those who can't afford tickets to fancy concerts can attend jazz concerts, and local small businesses have more clients and more money. We allow young jazz musicians to play alongside big names in the Calgary jazz scene in front of an audience. Isn't this wonderful? Isn't this something truly different? Isn't this real care for the future generation and the future of our community? You can support this great thing by participating in our 50/50 raffle. Currently, we've raised over 1700 CAD. This means that by spending just a minimum of 10 CAD, you'll have a chance to win half of the total amount, which is now 1700 CAD and, hopefully, will be more by May 1st. Let’s support our jazz community in Calgary for the price of just one espresso or americano! Tourism Calgary, Travel Alberta, City of Calgary I dream of the day when people from across Canada (and why only Canada) visiting Calgary each year to attend the Calgary International Jazz Festival! Together, we can make it happen. 😊 ❤️ #jazzyyc #yyccc #yyc #blueskycity #tourismcalgary #travelalberta

Performance spaces and education are just the start...

Visiting a part of the world with a vastly different political system and culture was eye-opening. Besides singing, one of the most striking experiences was browsing Chinese web browsers and news sites and noticing the state propaganda around the city. The way current events were presented, often with a much more positive spin, was interesting. While I strongly oppose mass surveillance, I was surprised to see an unexpected benefit: the freedom cyclists had to leave their expensive bikes unattended without fear of theft. Although I believe this advantage doesn't outweigh the significant human rights concerns, it did offer me a glimpse into another perspective. Finally, seeing the Great Wall of China, which dates back to the 7th century BC, offered some timeless lessons. The sheer size and endurance of the wall showed me just how far civilizations will go to protect themselves, both physically and psychologically. The wall wasn’t just a physical barrier; it was also a psychological one, sending a message of strength and deterrence to potential invaders. It drove home what I had seen throughout Beijing - that sometimes the perception of power can be just as important as actual power. The wall also made me think about the downside of isolation. While it provided security, it also symbolised a desire to keep out external influences, which, over time, led to stagnation and, eventually, the wall falling into disrepair. This had a negative impact on the Chinese economy at several points in history, even contributing to the collapse of some empires. So, while barriers can protect, they can also limit growth and exchange—something that feels like a perfect analogy for my first year at Kings.

The future is now