Global music streaming platform Spotify has announced a significant donation to Vibrate Space, a non-profit organisation helping young Ghanaian music entrepreneurs with the tools and skills they need to succeed in the industry. The donation, made from Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund, will support emerging artists in Ghana and help Vibrate Space achieve its goals of growing and supporting the creative economy in the country.
Operated by Surf Ghana in Accra, Vibrate Space is a community recording studio and music business programme that offers education, mentorship, and space to young Ghanaian artists to create, connect, and collaborate. Spotify first partnered with Vibrate Space in September 2022 with a donation that facilitated the launch of the studio. Over the past six months, Vibrate Space has registered over 200 studio bookings and hosted many more creators for events and classes.
Phiona Okumu, Head of Music for Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) at Spotify, said, “The partnership with Vibrate allows us to continue supporting emerging artists and cultural entrepreneurs in Ghana in addition to the on-platform work we are doing in the country.”
The most recent donation was announced at an event at Surf Ghana by Spotify’s Global Head of Artist and Audience Partnerships, Joe Hadley. The donation will be administered over multiple years, enabling Vibrate Space to collaborate with and support more aspiring young artists who seek to kick-start their careers.
Vibrate Space’s plans to use the additional funding for artist support include a festival at the space, to be held at the end of the year, supporting artists to put on their events and establishing a youth hostel, where young people can find affordable, short-term accommodation while experiencing the collaborative and community aspects of Vibrate. The organisation is also looking to establish an artist in residency and exchange programme to fuel creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange, as well as a women’s programme aimed at supporting women’s growth in the industry. They also intend to expand their educational offerings, by extending their highly successful monthly masterclasses for another two years and introducing a three-month instrument learning programme, starting with piano lessons and expanding into other instruments.
Sandy Alibo, Founder and Director of Surf Ghana, said, “We work with young and emerging artists and creators who are looking to make a mark in the music industry, and Spotify is a brand that speaks to young people and has played a significant role in taking African and Ghanaian music to the world.”
Spotify data shows that fans worldwide are finding and listening to Ghanaian artists on the platform. For every stream in Ghana of a Ghanaian artist, there are six streams worldwide, with top international markets for Ghanaian artists including the USA, UK, Nigeria, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, and France.
A number of Ghanaian artists have been beneficiaries of Spotify programmes aimed at showcasing local artists on a global stage and increasing discoverability. These include Black Sherif, who is a Spotify RADAR artist, Amaarae, Moliy and Gyakie, who have both been EQUAL Ambassadors, and Kofee Bean, who is a Fresh Finds artist. Sincerely Accra, a Ghanaian podcast, was also named as one of 13 African podcasts to receive a share of Spotify’s $100,000 USD last year.
Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Managing Director for Spotify SSA, said, “Spotify is constantly seeking new and innovative ways to promote African music and celebrate and support its creators. Our partnership with Vibrate is one way that we are doing this in Ghana, but we have plans and projects in place to support artists both on and off the platform across the region.”
