Category: Artist Development Programs
Providing resources and information about programs that support the development and growth of emerging music artists.
DETU Unveils ‘Madina,’ a Soulful Afro-Fusion Love Song
Nigerian-Ghanaian artist DETU returns with his heartfelt new single, “Madina,” a love song crafted for the season of love. Rooted in emotional vulnerability, intimacy, and devotion, the track captures love through a distinctly African lens — warm, soulful, and deeply relatable. DETU, whose name translates to “Symbol of Hope,” blends Afrobeats, soulful melodies, and cinematic…
TikTok and Apple Music Launch Full Song Streaming & Listening Parties
TikTok has expanded its music streaming integration through a new partnership with Apple Music, introducing full-song playback and real-time Listening Parties within the social video platform. The beta rollout signals a deeper convergence between short-form video, streaming services, and digital music monetization, reshaping how fans discover and consume music directly inside TikTok. TikTok’s “Play Full…
From Maghreb to the World: How Morocco, Algeria & Egypt Are Shaping New Global Sounds
Across Africa’s vast soundscape, a new rhythm is rising — one that refuses to stay confined by language, genre, or geography. From our last exploration of the Francophone Renaissance, we now journey northward into the Maghreb, where a quiet revolution hums beneath desert winds and neon skylines. In Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt, tradition meets trap,…
Nigerian Record Labels Oppose NCC’s Proposed MCSN Royalty Framework
Nigeria’s music industry is once again at a critical crossroads—this time, not over charts, streams, or global recognition, but over who controls the money generated by the music record industry. Behind closed doors, a high-stakes dispute is unfolding between the Record Label Proprietors Initiative Ltd/Gte (ReLPI) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) over the proposed…
Before the Gold Statues: What the Grammys Still Don’t Fully See About African Music
As the global music industry turns its attention to the 2026 Grammys, the conversation once again drifts toward trophies, speeches, and red carpets. But long before the gold statues are handed out, the real story has already been written ; in studios across Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, London, Atlanta, Kingston, and beyond. It lives in…
Tems Returns to COLORSxSTUDIOS With a Quiet, Devastating Performance of “What You Need”
Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems has made a striking return to COLORSxSTUDIOS, delivering a stripped-back performance of “What You Need” that leans fully into restraint, vulnerability, and emotional precision. Premiering just over an hour ago, the session has already drawn thousands of viewers, reaffirming Tems’ rare ability to command attention without spectacle. Against COLORS’ signature minimal backdrop,…
MUSIC CUSTODIAN IS A LIVING ARCHIVE
In an era where attention is fleeting and culture is often reduced to trends, Music Custodian exists as a living archive , we think of a space where African music is not just announced, but understood; not just amplified, but contextualized; not just celebrated, but protected. From its earliest days as a bespoke communications consultancy,…
What 2025 Sounded Like: 30 Albums, Carefully Curated
As the year winds down, Music Custodian finds itself reflecting on the records that moved culture, sparked conversations, went viral, climbed charts, and ultimately soundtracked our year. Beyond numbers and accolades, these are the albums that lived with us, shaping moments and moods long after release day. 2025 was a defining year for music. Afrobeats,…
MUSIC CUSTODIAN PARTNERS WITH SHIGH TO LAUNCH “MOST WANTED” — A NEW CROSS-GENRE ANTHEM FT. BAGETTI, CANDY BLEAKZ & LADÉ
Lagos, Nigeria — Music Custodian is proud to announce press activation support for “MOST WANTED”, the new single from SHigh, featuring Bagetti, Candy Bleakz and Ladé. The track is an audacious blend of street energy and melodic modern Afrobeats — a club-ready anthem crafted to bridge scenes and amplify rising female voices in the contemporary…
Juls Baby Is Soundtracking the Diaspora & Redefining Global Music — Music Custodian Sessions Returns With a New Episode
Music Custodian announces a brand new episode of Music Custodian Sessions, featuring globally acclaimed producer Juls — the architect behind some of the most distinctive African and diasporic sounds of the last decade. In this intimate sit-down filmed in Nairobi, Juls reflects on his creative evolution, cultural identity, and the sonic philosophy shaping his next…