Hey there, movers and shakers of the creative world! Nuel in the house.
If we haven’t crossed paths yet, consider this the beginning of an epic journey together. Because let’s face it, in the fast-paced world of branding and creativity, every new connection is an opportunity for something amazing to unfold. So buckle up, because this ride promises to be one for the books!
Welcome to another thrilling edition of our newsletter! As we dive headfirst into the vibrant world of creativity, we’re thrilled to curate some electrifying highlights, industry insights, and golden opportunities just for you.In today’s newsletter, we will be:
- Shining a spotlight on some of the hottest artists making waves;
- Delving into the surge of streaming among Nigerians with insights from Spotify;
- Sharing our take on the latest buzz from the AMVCA scene.
But wait, there’s more! We’ll also be dishing out some juicy data on trending stories, unveiling our creative word of the week, and highlighting can’t-miss opportunities and events tailor-made for you, our extraordinary creative minds. So sit tight and get ready for an exhilarating ride!
Artist Spotlight – M.I Abaga:
In this week’s edition, we beam our spotlight on the remarkable talent of Nigerian rapper, songwriter, record producer, creative entrepreneur and businessman M.I Abaga. Renowned for his groundbreaking contributions and milestones within the music industry, M.I Abaga is not just a super creative [but our super creative] who is particular about mental health and ensuring that co-creatives, especially upcoming ones are inspired to grow and create innovative captivating artistry and pioneer change in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
In a recent interview with Wearegst, he emphasized the need to build creative communities, leveraging on them and progressively utilizing them to boost the creative economy in ways that are robust and accommodating for the young creative.
What you should know on the side: M.I Abaga wishes to gain the Guinness World Record for the sexiest beard. Won’t you love to see that?
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Creative Industry: A Projection for 2025 and Strategies for Further Growth
Increase in streaming by Nigerians leading to Spotify report
There’s money in the music industry, and that’s a fact!
Why do I say so?
Over the weekend, Spotify released its Loud and Clear Report, which detailed its growth in 2023. This report showed that the sub-Saharan African market boasts of the world’s fastest-music growth with a staggering 24.7% growth increase. This growth is championed by the surge in paid streaming services which currently account for 24.5% of the revenue; further indicating a 20% growth in the region.
This report also states that streaming royalties for Nigerian artists in Spotify exceeded ₦23 Billion, double from the previous year (a 2500% increase since 2017).
What else is of note?
- The number of Nigerian artists earning over ₦10 million in royalties has quadrupled since 2018.
- Over half of these royalties went to independent artists or labels, showcasing the power of streaming as a democratised system.
- Spotify listeners discovered Nigerian artists nearly 950 million times in 2023.
- Nigerian artists own over 80% of the tracks featured on Nigeria’s daily Top 50 chart in 2023.
- Over 1,400 Nigerian artists were added to Spotify editorial playlists in 2023.
Our Thoughts on AMVCA
The African Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) happened over the weekend and it is safe to say that everyone heaved a sigh of relief from the Breath of Life (no pun intended).
The award ceremony, which celebrates excellence in the African film and television industry recognized outstanding talent, and achievements in various categories including acting, directing, writing, and production across different genres and formats. The awards ceremony honored both established and emerging talent from across the continent, showcasing the diversity and richness of African storytelling. It also continues toserve as a platform to celebrate the creativity, innovation, and cultural significance of African cinema and television, fostering collaboration and networking within the industry.
The ceremony had some of the “best” wins, with Prime Video’s Original “Breath of Life” winning five awards including Best Movie, Chimezie Imo clinching the Trailblazer Award, Layi Wasabi securing his first Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) win in the Best Digital Content Creator category, and Veteran Nollywood actress, Idowu Philips, also known as Iya Rainbow and Richard Mofe Damifo aka RMD were honored with the Industry Merit Awards.
It was interesting and a bit sad that movies like Afamefuna and A Tribe Called Judah which had quite a buzz didn’t get any awards. We would like to hear your thoughts on the awards. Leave feedback here
Creatives Word of the Day:
Our creative word for this week is — ORGANIZE
Creatives often struggle a great deal with staying organized and so, we want you to explore ways to stay organized. If you can relate to this either as a Creative or a Brand working with Creative, hit us up and let’s talk about how we can help you stay organized. 
Opportunities/Events:
Discover exciting opportunities and upcoming events tailored to fuel your creative journey:
1. TASCK Database for Females in Cinematography:
As part of our mission statement of connecting creatives to opportunities, our team is looking forward to working with women in the next series of productions that are coming. So are you a photographer, videographer, scriptwriter, gaffer, and lots more within the industry, here’s a standing opportunity to sign up with us and get plugged in. Kindly click here to sign up.
2. Creativity Pioneers Fund’s Open Call:
The Creativity Pioneers Fund is back and open for the 2024 edition. This fund is open to all creatives with a knack for social change within their communities and is ready to implement these changes to the latter using their voices as a form of advocacy. So, are you a creative who is interested in contending with excessive injustices? This opportunity is for you. Sign up here and get involved. The deadline is May 27th, 2024.
3. MasterCard Foundation Storytelling Competition:
MasterCard Foundation is calling on all young storytellers living with disabilities to tell their stories via various forms of media. The deadline for this is 28th June, 2024 and submissions can be made via [email protected].
4. Julius Berger Vocational Support Program 2024 for Nigerians:
Julius Berger has opened up its portal for the vocational support programme of 2024 for Nigerians. With the deadline of 25th May, 2024, the programme will equip participants with skill development to upskill them to the next level. Interested persons should apply here.
Closing Remarks:
It is hard to say goodbye but as I wrap things up here, I encourage you to embrace your creativity, push boundaries, and connect with other super creatives. We believe that Creatives will Change Africa and together, we can create a vibrant community that celebrates and nurtures creativity in all its forms.
Stay inspired, stay connected, and keep creating!
Nuel from TASCK! Have a great week!
PS: Remember to keep in touch always! I would love to hear from you!
