On March 26 and 27 in Lagos, Nigeria, Sony Music West Africa held its highly anticipated event “She Is…” in commemoration of International Women’s Month. The two-day summit was dedicated to empowering women across various fields, particularly in the music and creator economy, providing them with the knowledge, network, and resources necessary to thrive in the industry. 

The event, which gathered creatives and music enthusiasts alike, served as a platform to glean insights from esteemed thought leaders in the industry. Day 1 commenced with engaging panel sessions, covering a spectrum of topics aimed at fostering growth and sustainability within the music business. 

The first panel, moderated by Omolola Ige, Marketing Manager at Sony Music West Africa, delved into the theme: “The Creator Economy: Stand out. Earn, Invest. Repeat.” Panelists, including Ifeoma Uddoh, CEO & Founder, Shecluded; Adaora Oramah, CEO & Founder, Amaka Studios; Mary Edoro, Chief of Staff & Strategy, BellaNaija; and Ivy Ifeoma Iboko, Brand Influencer and Founder, Ivymark, shared invaluable insights from a creator’s perspective, discussing opportunities, differentiation strategies, sustainable earnings, and investment avenues. 

The second panel, moderated by Princess Okereugo, A&R Manager at Sony Music West Africa, explored the theme: “Afrobeats: Past, Present & Future.” Panelists Addy Awofisayo, Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa, YouTube Music; Christel Kayibi, Director of Repertoire & Strategy, Continental Europe and Africa, Sony Music; Taymi B, Renowned On-Air-Personality at Beat FM & CEO, Pitchr; and Gift Israel, Head of Content, Glitch Africa, engaged in a dynamic discussion on the evolution and commercial potential of Afrobeats as a global genre, sparking insightful dialogue among attendees. 

Day 2 concluded with a vibrant mixer attended by over 150 guests, who participated in activities ranging from sip & paint to karaoke and games. The evening featured captivating music performances by F3line, Salle, Elmah, and a special acoustic set by Godwin. Additionally, guests were treated to a special virtual appearance by Aqyila, a rising TikTok sensation and Juno Awards 2024 winner. 

In response to what inspired “She Is…”, lead organizer of the event, Blessing Manafa, Digital Services & Partnerships Manager, Sony Music West Africa, said, “Knowledge is power and power can be measured by your network. Women in the music industry need to foster closer and more impactful relationships between and within one another. It’s our hope that She Is… is the start of more to come.” 

The success of “She Is…” was made possible through the generous support of sponsors including AMAKA, Shecluded, Glitch Africa, Saturday’s Eve, BellaNaija, and Nigerian Breweries. 

Sony Music West Africa remains committed to fostering diversity, inclusion, and empowerment within the music industry, and looks forward to future initiatives that continue to uplift and celebrate women in music. 

This Sunday at Coachella, our partner 88rising will take over a stage with their stand-out set of performances called 88rising Futures. They will feature groundbreaking artistry from Japan that will include some surprise performances as well as from Sony Music Japan pop sensation YOASOBI; the genre-defying quartet ATARASHII GAKKO!; iconic supergroup Number_i; and queen of Japanese hip-hop Awich. 

Today, Japanese music has more influence globally and in American culture than ever. The share of Japanese-language music in the global and U.S. streaming charts has steadily increased for the last three years—and consumers who listen to Japanese music spend twice as much per month on artist merchandise than the average listeners of American music. Amidst this backdrop, 88rising is committed to bringing Asian music to the global stage.

It’s a vision shared by Sony Music Group, Sony Music Japan, and The Orchard, too. As part of a Japanese company, we are uniquely suited to support and help accelerate this trend. 

In 2023, 88rising began working with The Orchard for global distribution and to empower their creators to reach new global audiences. And, The Orchard expanded operations into Japan in 2019; ever since, they have worked closely with Sony Music Japan to offer services to an impressive slate of local artists and independent labels. 

These are the sort of opportunities we’re dedicated to creating for artists and our label partners: iconic moments that help musicians of all backgrounds break through to global audiences.

Coachella has always captured a unique, timely cross-section of music and culture. Today, that culture is more global than ever. At this year’s festival, 88rising Futures will spotlight exactly what its name implies: the future of Asian music. As always, we’re proud to play a role in bringing music from anywhere to audiences everywhere.

Check out the global livestream here this Sunday at 5:20 p.m. PST.

We remain committed to redefining connection and rediscovering belonging with the help of our partner organizations this Women’s History Month.

Throughout Women’s History Month, we proudly amplified the unique voices, intersectional identities, and diverse backgrounds of women around the world. While we’ve reached the end of the month, our celebration of and advocacy for women continue through our Global Social Justice Fund.  

Discover some of our partner organizations who are excelling in advocating for global women’s rights and gender equality: 

Global Girl Media 

Locations: Germany, Greece, Kosovo, Morocco, South Africa, UK, US 

Global Girl Media (GGM) empowers female identifying and gender expansive young people, ages 15-25, from underserved communities by developing their media literacy skills and teaching them how to produce impactful, female-forward journalism.  

We proudly support their annual Summer Intensive Media Training Program, which helps train twenty young women from low-income backgrounds in South and East Los Angeles neighborhoods to understand the role that media plays in shaping identity. Additionally, these women learn about the contributions of female BIPOC leaders that work to positively change society’s cultural and political landscape. 

Learn more about Global Girl Media’s influential work here. 

Association of Women for Action and Research 

Location: Singapore 

The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) remains dedicated to removing gender-based barriers throughout Singapore through its research, advocacy, education, and support services.  

By supporting their Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC), a specialized service that aids sexual assault survivors, we help them achieve their mission. SACC’s services are provided by a team of experienced counsellors, lawyers, social workers, and volunteers. They offer a wide range of services ranging from case management to supplying legal information and counseling support. 

Young Women’s Freedom Center 

Location: US 

Young Women’s Freedom Center provides support, mentorship, training, employment, and advocacy to young women and trans youth in California. Their mission is to provide fiscal sponsorship, coaching, and training that inspires young people from various backgrounds, ranging from those who grew up in poverty to those who have been part of the foster care system. 

We aid in this mission through our support of their Siblings on the Rise Internship Program (SSoR), a 350-hour training and paid internship that promotes leadership development and job placement for BIPOC women and trans youth ages 14-25. This program engages and encourages these young people to become advocates and community organizers. 

Read more on how Young Women’s Freedom Center uplifts young people here. 

A huge thank you to all our wonderful partners for helping us redefine connection and rediscover belonging throughout Women’s History Month and beyond. Through their ongoing support, we continue to help celebrate and empower women around the world.  

Beyond The Instrument – a Sony Music Group youth programme designed to promote music creativity, education, and career development in the industry – has celebrated its second year by donating DJ equipment, musical instruments, and PLAYvirtuoso access to the Walker Riverside Academy, in Newcastle upon Tyne.

In partnership with grant-giving music charity Restore the Music, the co-educational secondary and sixth form school was selected for this year’s scheme due to its location in an area dealing with high levels of social deprivation and unemployment. The Beyond the Instrument package was meticulously tailored to meet the specific needs of the school. As well as a range of musical instruments and DJ equipment, the school was granted classroom access to over 100 courses on PLAYvirtuoso – an educational platform loaded with video courses from the world’s best electronic and rap producers, DJs and songwriters – alongside personal logins for students to further enrich their music education experience. In addition, PLAYvirtuoso will deliver a number of workshops to students and staff at Walker Riverside Academy, ensuring the new equipment is fully utilised and embedded into the curriculum.

Read the full article on sonymusic.co.uk.

Alongside our Global Social Justice Fund partners, we continue to redefine connection and rediscover belonging this Black History Month.

Sony Music Group is embracing a singular, unifying theme for every heritage acknowledgement and celebration in 2024: Reimagining CommUNITY. Inspired by the art we create, music can help us strengthen our connections to the people and cultures around us, so everyone can belong and thrive.  

While Black History Month has come to a close, we remain committed to reimagining commUNITY within and outside of our company through our Global Social Justice Fund. We continue to partner with organizations who go above and beyond to advance racial and social justice worldwide. 

Learn more about some of the organizations we are supporting below: 

Black Women’s Blueprint  

Black Women’s Blueprint is a women and girls rights organization committed to intergenerational collaboration, youth development, and leadership at the center of each initiative they sponsor. Their goal is to bring people together to design and practice strategies for healing and health. 

We proudly support the Black Women’s Blueprint Sound Healing with Emerging Girls youth program, which engages girls ages 16-24 in violence prevention and arts-based healing services. This year-round program offers workshops and learning using hands-on experience, narrative sharing, sister circles, and violence prevention education to cultivate healthy self-image and relationships through co-created healing and arts spaces. This program provides space for young people to engage with the arts in a way they may not have had otherwise while simultaneously allowing their unique stories and voices to be heard.

Learn more about Black Women’s Blueprint’s inspiring work here. 

Brotherhood Sister Sol  

For over 25 years, Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis) has helped Black and Latinx youth claim the power of their history, identity, and community to build the future they want to see. Through around-the-clock support, the organization makes space for young people to examine their roots, define their stories, and awaken their agency.   

We aid in this mission through supporting BroSis’ holistic programming and social justice youth organizing efforts such as the Liberation Program. The Liberation Program is a youth-led initiative that fosters a new generation of organizers and social change-makers. Through this program, young people can develop informed perspectives on equity and power, learn about past social justice movements, and draw from their own experiences with oppression and privilege in a safe and nurturing space.

Find out more about the groundbreaking work of the Brotherhood Sister Sol here.  

One Acre Fund 

One Acre Fund is an agricultural service provider that supports Africa’s smallholder farmers to build resilient communities.   

For smallholder farmers, the line between flourishing and struggling often comes down to small differences in planting techniques and the quality of seeds and supplies. By providing access to better farm products and education on farming techniques, the organization helps these farmers to grow their way out of hunger and poverty.  

Through our Global Social Justice Fund, we proudly support One Acre Fund Field Officers, aiding with enrollment and training while supporting smallholder farmers. This support will have a transformational impact on this underserved community. 

Discover more about One Acre Fund’s purpose-driven work here. 

Thank you to all of our incredible Global Social Justice Fund partners for helping us continue to redefine connection and rediscover belonging. With the collaboration and support of our partners, we aim to uplift and celebrate the Black community throughout the rest of 2024 and in the future. 

Black culture is everywhere. From the arts to tech innovation and so much more, Black heritage and traditions influence our daily activities, such as the music we write and listen to. And as music continues to evolve globally, we’re shaping the next generation of artists and music industry experts while celebrating the growth of music genres created by Black creators, artists, songwriters, and communities across the globe.

At Sony Music Group, we celebrate Black History Month during the month of February in Germany, Canada, and the U.S., and we’ll continue to support programs and initiatives throughout the year for Black communities worldwide. Take a look at some of our highlights below.

Empowering the Next Generation of Black Leaders and Creators in Berlin

To celebrate Black History Month, Sony Music’s Talent Advisory Group, HUE (Helping Unite Everyone), hosted a workshop, Record Label 101, for Black youth to gain insight into the music industry and discuss career opportunities within a record label.

This event was organized by Deschoolonize e.V. in partnership with Black Futures Week and Vitamin Black. In unity, the event was formed to inspire and empower the Black community in Berlin.

“We were honored to support Deschoolonize and Black Future Week because their work is critical to empowering the next generation of BIPOC leaders and creatives,” said Will Mckinny-Raphelt, Senior Product Manager, and member of HUE, “We are pleased to have been able to provide our knowledge and resources to further this important mission.”

Participants also had the opportunity to meet with Sony Music’s People eXperience team for resume critiques and networking. 

Chatting with Groundbreaking Director Cazhhmere

In Canada, Sony Music hosted a conversation with Canadian director and filmmaker Cazhhmere for Black History Month. As an 11th generation Black Canadian, Cazhhmere discussed her path from transitioning from music videos to filmmaking, and adapting to changes in technology, while continuing to commit to telling meaningful stories. “The stories I wanted to tell got bigger,” Cazhhmere shared of her journey into the film industry. “That was a driving force for me—to create richer and more nuanced narratives for my audience.”

Cazhhmere is a beacon of creativity in the Canadian arts and culture space and a storyteller who continues to soar over hurdles and challenge limitations.

Her acclaimed short documentary “Deeply Rooted” explores the concept of Canadian identity from the perspective of her own family, who have been in Canada since the 1600s. The film challenges the idea that Black Canadians are necessarily “from somewhere else,” and has become part of the school curriculum throughout Ontario. 

Throughout the conversation, Cazhhmere discussed the pivotal role of community support and collaboration in fostering success in the creative industries in Canada. The session served as a testament to the resilience and creativity of Black Canadian professionals, driving positive change and inspiring future generations.

Celebrating the Rise of Amapiano

Music is always evolving—and in New York—The Orchard held a lively event in honor of Black History Month to celebrate the impact and contributions of Black artists from around the world. Hosted by HUE, attendees gathered as a community to recognize the expansion of music genres created by African artists, producers, songwriters, including Amapiano.

Reimagining Black History With Doug Melville

In a fireside chat with Doug Melville, author of “Invisible Generals,” Doug shared family stories of his ancestors’ accomplishments, including his ancestors Benjamin O. Davis Jr, and Benjamin Davis Sr., America’s first two Black Generals.

To check out the organizations we support click here.

Throughout the 2023 holiday season, Sony Music Group alongside our global roster of artists and songwriters, made charitable donations and volunteered at various organizations around the world during its second annual ‘Season of Giving’ initiative. 

The initiative represents SMG’s continued commitment – both as an organization, and as a collective of individuals – to make an impact around the globe and bolster communities where music is created and enjoyed. 

This past year, SMG’s Season of Giving initiative supported more than 20 organizations in eight different regions around the world, dedicated to addressing food insecurity, homelessness and education. Each of these organizations hosted events within their local communities, which received assistance from more than 15 artists and songwriters from SMG’s global talent roster. 

A huge thank you to our artists, songwriters and partners for their help in making the holiday season so special. Click here to see a full list of this year’s participants. 

Dennis Kooker, Sony Music’s President of Global Digital Business, represented the music industry in advocating for copyright and intellectual property protections in generative AI development at U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) seventh Artificial Intelligence Insight Forum in Washington, D.C. earlier this week. 

“If copyrights are protected and enforced appropriately, we are at the beginning of a multi-decade marathon that will change the creative and commercial landscape for music. Innovation does not require that we burn down the past to race to the future,” Kooker said in opening comments.

“Music is a tremendous driver for AI technology, and AI technology presents a tremendous opportunity for the creative development of music. But these opportunities must be grounded by the human creators’ vision with the machine assisting, not with the machine replacing the human creator.

“SME’s active licensing business highlights that strong copyright regimes are not an impediment to innovation.”

Read more from Kooker’s official statement and testimony below.

During Hispanic Latin Heritage Month, Sony Music Group proudly embraced this year’s national theme “Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America.” Our nation’s economy, culture, cuisine, entertainment and so much more are greatly influenced by the many contributions and strides made by the Hispanic Latin community.  

We celebrated and honored the Hispanic Latin community through programming and events designed to recognize their versatility and broad cultural impact.  

Highlights from Our Hispanic Latin Heritage Month Celebration 

We kicked off our recognition for the month with a leadership development workshop featuring guest speaker Refugio Atilano—an author and career mentor/coach for Latino professionals. Throughout the workshop, he imparted actionable skills for enhancing impact and value within the professional community. Links to the virtual launch of his book, The Latino Leadership Playbook, were also shared with attendees once the event concluded. 

Atilano discussed topics ranging from advocating for yourself in the workplace to practical guidance for how non-Hispanic or non-Latin employees can support their Hispanic and Latin colleagues. In addition, he gave a list of action items to help bring the concepts he covered to life, like following the free templates found on his website regarding personal development and activating a Latino Leadership Club where employees can discuss topics that aid in changing the paradigm within the workplace. As a closing statement, he relayed this advice to participants:  

“If we want to move the needle on representation … if we’re all serious about it … take these steps. Hold yourself accountable and drive yourself forward.” 

Later in the month, we held a special class to help master the art of Reggaeton movement with dance performer and instructor, Sofía Dallal. Reggaeton is one of the most popular dance styles originating from Latin America. Born in Panama and popularized in Puerto Rico, it has traveled across the region and the globe. Evolving from dancehall and influenced by U.S. hip-hop, Latin American and Caribbean music, it’s a vibrant fusion.  

Dallal described her experience with the team at Sony Music as being both “comfortable and happy” as she was in a space “with people interested in getting to know more about…Latin culture.” She explained that “everybody had very good energy” and were “focused on getting the steps” while simultaneously keeping it “light and super fun.” 

To conclude the celebrations of Hispanic Latin Heritage Month, we held a mixer in our New York City office with special guest—and Sony Music Latin singer and songwriter Beéle. Beéle infused the atmosphere with sounds from Colombia through his performance.  

A special thank you to all the SMG employees who participated and attended our Hispanic Latin Heritage Month events and activities. Huge shoutout to Refugio Atilano, Sofía Dallal, and Beéle for all the time and effort they contributed. And thank you to SOMOS—a Sony Music Group Talent Advisory Group—for helping host this month’s events and making it such a memorable one. 

Our Ongoing Efforts to Support the Hispanic Latin Community 

In honor of Hispanic Latin Heritage Month, Sony Music Group, alongside SOMOS, supported causes important to the Hispanic Latin community, including those listed below: 

• Hispanic Unity Of Florida Inc.: Empowering immigrants and others to become self-sufficient, productive and civically engaged. 
• UnidosUS: UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza)—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to build a stronger America by creating opportunities for Latinos. 
• Maestro Cares Foundation: Maestro Cares Foundation improves the quality of life of disadvantaged children and communities in Latin America and the United States. We do so by providing housing, educational programming and the essential resources to support their growth and development. 
• Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation: To further international awareness and appreciation of the significant contributions of Latin music and its makers to the world’s culture through college scholarships, grants and educational programs.

Sony Music Africa celebrated this day with Sony Music, artist, songwriter and producer Ringo Madlingozi, Tanzanian Hip-Hop artist Young Lunya, and artist Daniella Daniel, known as Morravay from Nigeria.

Every year, on September 24, South Africa celebrates the rich history, traditions, and multifaceted cultural heritage of the “Rainbow Nation.” Originally known as “Shaka Day,” South Africa’s Heritage Day, is a moment to acknowledge the many various communities by embracing diversity and promoting respect among different ethnic and cultural groups.

This year’s theme was Belonging, and employees came dressed in their cultural and other relevantly themed attire that showcased their diverse identities—including Ringo Madlingozi— who celebrated 27 years in the industry and had his catalogue made available on streaming platforms the same day. This contributed to fostering an inclusive environment for each individual while providing a space for everyone to learn about different cultures and cultural affinities and have the opportunity to highlight who they are—authentically without judgment.

“Our Diversity and Inclusion committee planned this day to highlight ‘belonging’ as a focal point of this year’s celebration,” said Chenayi Mukaro, Head of People Experience. “It was important to the committee to emphasize being your authentic self and encouraging everyone to take time to understand each other and their backgrounds.”

In a show of celebration and participation on this special day, employees came dressed in their cultural attire that represented their ethnic backgrounds or their chosen cultural association. From delicate African cuisines that symbolized the culinary journey of foods from various cultures and scenes to personal speeches prepared by employees to express what ‘Heritage Day’ means to them, this bridged a connection and helped showcase how diversity plays a greater role in creativity at Sony Music Entertainment.

“[This] event allowed an opportunity for us to meet each other at a point of realness. I did not know that a simple event and cultural clothing would bond us as a Sony Music family. I am aware of who I am culturally, I am an African with a South African culture. I felt respected and honored,” said Caroline Morabe, Label Manager. “Let’s enjoy how we appreciate each of our diverse cultures. Africa is amazing and we are here to make sure that the Sony vision is realized.”

Read an employee speech in celebration of ‘Heritage Day’ from Digital Services and Partner Manager, Blessing Manafa, from Sony Music Nigeria below:

Have you ever noticed that the same of two things never make a new thing?

Have you ever noticed that new experiences don’t ever really come by doing the same routine?

Have you ever wondered why it takes a mix of red and blue – two completely different colors to make purple?

Imagine a world where only reds existed – this means the beauty of purple could never have been born nor experienced.

Thankfully, we do not live in such a world. Our world is full of reds, blue—all unconsciously tasked to, with interacting in various capacities, to birth “purple.”

By “purple” I mean new experiences, fresh perspectives, alternate angles to the same picture.

To speak plainly, everyone here symbolizes a red or a blue and it is our responsibility to create purple ourselves fully realizing that without the rich, bright, and unstoppable red or the wonderful, calm, and powerful blue – we can never have purple.

This means all that makes us who we are, all that has contributed to where we are from indeed has a place here.

Meaning “here” ought to be a place where our unique stories and backgrounds – our heritage – do not take a back seat. Instead that very heritage becomes the catalyst that creates the purple in our relationships within and outside our work environment.

Being a Nigerian born from two major tribes – Igbo & Yoruba, I can tell you that I have come to appreciate and value firsthand the beauty of diversity, and this has led me to the conclusion that we are indeed all pieces of the same whole.

A whole that can never be seen and fully appreciated without its individual parts.

Happy Heritage Day – keep creating wonderful purple experiences!

Scan here to listen to Certified Heritage, the event’s official playlist consisting entirely of artists from Sony Music South Africa.

The Certified Heritage playlist artwork was created by Maria Hadjidimitriadis, Strategic Catalogue Marketing Manager, Sony Music Entertainment Africa. “This artwork was inspired by our rich cultural diversity and passion for our music,” says Maria. “The cover artwork is depicted as a quilt which is pieced together using traditional prints, each representing a different ethnicity across Sub-Saharan Africa. The golden thread holding each print in place, represents the music that brings our diverse ethnicities closer together, and this playlist is made available through the Sony Music Entertainment Africa localized Legacy catalogue division, Certified Africa, the first official CERTIFIED curator on Apple and custodian of our unique genre-blending music catalogue for Hip-Hop, R&B, Kwaito, Gospel, Amapiano and Afrobeats.”