Spotify, the global music streaming platform, has announced a donation to Vibrate Space, a non-profit organization that helps young Ghanaian music entrepreneurs.
The donation comes from Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund and is intended to support emerging artists in Ghana.
Vibrate Space is a community recording studio and music business program operated by Surf Ghana in Accra.
It offers education, mentorship, and space to young Ghanaian artists to create, connect, and collaborate. Spotify first partnered with Vibrate in September 2022 with a donation that facilitated the launch of the studio.
The recent donation, which was announced by Spotify’s Global Head of Artist and Audience Partnerships, Joe Hadley, at an event at Surf Ghana, will be administered over multiple years to help Vibrate achieve its plans to grow and support the creative economy in Ghana.
Phiona Okumu, Head of Music for Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), said that the partnership with Vibrate allows Spotify to continue supporting emerging artists and cultural entrepreneurs in Ghana.
She added, “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 donation will be used to collaborate with and support aspiring young artists who seek to kick-start their careers.
Vibrate’s plans include a festival at the space, supporting artists to put on their own events, establishing a youth hostel, and introducing a three-month instrument learning program.
Spotify data shows that fans on the platform are finding and listening to Ghanaian artists worldwide.
For every stream in Ghana of a Ghanaian artist, there are six streams globally, with top international markets for Ghanaian artists including the USA, UK, Nigeria, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, and France.
Spotify has also showcased local Ghanaian artists on a global stage through its programs, including Black Sherif, who is a Spotify RADAR artist, Amaarae, Moliy, and Gyakie, who have all been EQUAL Ambassadors.
Kofee Bean is a Fresh Finds artist, and Sincerely Accra, a Ghanaian podcast, was named as one of 13 African podcasts to receive a share of Spotify’s $100,000 last year.
Managing Director for Spotify SSA, Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, said that Spotify is constantly seeking new and innovative ways to promote African music and support its creators.
She added that Spotify has plans and projects in place to support artists both on and off-platform across the region.
