Introducing the Music Economy Development Initiative — Center for Music Ecosystems

Whilst economists can present a dismal picture of GDP and all of its variations, they often miss what matters most to people—cultural industries that inspire, educate, and inform their populations. Music is one of those things we do not need to live, but most would struggle to live without.

Africa makes up 18% of the world’s population, 3% of the world’s gross domestic product and half a percent of the world’s value of music copyright. Yet, African artists are achieving global recognition, with local genres such as Afrobeats or Amapiano becoming globally consumed genres. It is just as common to hear Asake in a taxi in Saudi Arabia as ... See more

Properly capturing the value of music globally requires investment, policies, education and political commitment to ensure that music—as property—can be owned, managed, monetized, and taxed.