Seen Here: Behind every great sound is a business that makes the magic possible. 🎶🌍 The inaugural Music Business Awards Africa will honour the visionaries, entrepreneurs and industry professionals shaping the future of African music, celebrating the power behind the performances and the minds behind the milestones. The industry takes centre stage on 21 November 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Sandton. Photo Credit: Supplied
Inaugural awards to honour the executives, entrepreneurs and industry professionals shaping Africa’s music economy at a landmark ceremony in Sandton on 21 November 2026.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Behind every successful artist is an ecosystem of professionals whose vision, expertise and business acumen transform musical talent into sustainable careers. From discovering emerging voices and negotiating recording deals to protecting intellectual property and taking African sounds to international markets, these industry players are the driving force behind music’s commercial success.
It is this often-overlooked side of the industry that the inaugural Music Business Awards Africa (MBAA) aims to celebrate, bringing the people and organisations powering the continent’s music economy into the spotlight.
Scheduled for Saturday, 21 November 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Sandton, the awards will recognise excellence across the music business, honouring the professionals, companies and institutions whose contributions are fundamental to the growth and sustainability of the industry.
While artists and performers have traditionally dominated music award ceremonies, the MBAA seeks to broaden the narrative by acknowledging the business minds, creative strategists and industry specialists who help turn artistic vision into commercial opportunity.
From artist managers and A&R executives to music publishers, entertainment lawyers, booking agencies, publicists and educators, these professionals play a critical role in building careers, creating employment, protecting creative rights and strengthening the business infrastructure that allows music to flourish.
For founder Gift Mdlalose, establishing the awards is about addressing a longstanding gap in industry recognition.
“For years, I’ve watched the music industry celebrate what audiences see on stage, while many of the people responsible for building those careers remain largely invisible,” says Mdlalose.
“Managers, A&Rs, publishers, lawyers, PR professionals, booking agents, educators and music companies are critical to the ecosystem. The Music Business Awards Africa was created to give that side of the industry its own credible platform for recognition.”
Recognising the architects of musical success
The awards feature individual, company and special merit categories designed to reflect the depth and diversity of expertise required to sustain a thriving music industry.
Individual honours include Best Artist Manager of the Year, Best A&R Manager of the Year, Best Commercial Songwriter of the Year and Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year. The Industry Champion Award and Young Legend Award will also recognise contributions to the sector.
On the corporate front, the awards will acknowledge achievements across independent record labels, artist management, music publishing, music law, live music events, booking agencies, public relations and marketing, music education, and music business conferences. Platforms that amplify music and connect artists with wider audiences will also be recognised.
The breadth of these categories underscores an important reality: musical talent alone cannot sustain an industry. Long-term success depends on effective management, sound commercial strategies, investment, professional networks and the protection of intellectual property.
By recognising these interconnected disciplines, the MBAA aims to highlight the collective effort required to move music from the recording studio to the marketplace and, ultimately, onto the global stage.
Beyond the stage: building a sustainable music economy
Africa’s music industry represents more than entertainment. It is an expanding creative economy with opportunities across entrepreneurship, technology, marketing, live events, publishing, distribution and rights management.
However, developing a sustainable sector requires more than producing hit songs or attracting international attention. It also demands professional business structures, viable revenue models, investment in emerging talent and a workforce equipped to navigate an increasingly competitive global market.
The Music Business Awards Africa aims to contribute to this broader conversation by raising the profile of careers beyond performing and demonstrating the range of professional opportunities available within the industry.
Greater recognition of managers, publishers, legal practitioners, educators and other specialists can help inspire aspiring professionals to explore these career paths while encouraging stronger collaboration across the music value chain.
The initiative also highlights the importance of creating an environment in which artists and the businesses supporting them can grow together, ensuring that creative success translates into meaningful economic opportunities.
Taking African music’s global story further
As African music continues to reach audiences across international markets, attention is increasingly focused on the systems and expertise required to develop talent, manage rights, secure commercial partnerships and build enduring careers.
The professionals behind these processes are essential to the continent’s growing musical influence. Their work helps connect artists with audiences, create opportunities for collaboration and establish the commercial foundations necessary for long-term growth.
The inaugural MBAA seeks to ensure that this contribution receives recognition alongside the performances and recordings that capture public attention.
By celebrating the people and organisations behind the music, the awards aim to establish a platform that values not only artistic achievement but also the business leadership, innovation and professional excellence that sustain the industry.
As anticipation builds towards the November ceremony, the Music Business Awards Africa presents an opportunity to acknowledge a broader community of contributors whose work helps shape the present and future of African music.
The inaugural ceremony will take place on 21 November 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Sandton in Johannesburg.
For updates, voting information and the full list of nominees, follow @musicbusiness_awards and @musicbusiness_academy, or visit www.musicbusinessawards.com.
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