Africa’s music industry changes tempo to the local beat
Demand for homegrown contemporary music is sweeping Africa and driving a creative boom in an industry hit by falling CD sales and rampant piracy. A recent study of the entertainment sector by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) accountants showed rapid earnings growth in many African countries, fuelled largely by live performances by local artists. "Consumers are increasingly wanting local content," said Vicki Myburgh, a PwC director who conducted the study released last month. "The Nigerian music market ... will (soon) grow at nearly 13% annually, which is a fantastic rate." This weekend, African talent will be celebrated in Johannesburg at the yearly MTV Africa awards set up in 2008 to recognise people who had the most impact on African music and youth culture. Contenders for the artist of the year category are Nigerian afro-pop stars Yemi Alade and Wizkid, South African afro-house DJ Black Coffee, Kenyan singer Sauti Sol and Diamond, a hip-hop guru from Tanzania. The increasingly presti...
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