Byta Presents:
#HowWeListen Live: In Conversation with
Chioma Onuchukwu, Head of TuneCore, West & East Africa
Understanding Africa’s Music Ecosystem
July 26th 12PM ET / 5pm BST & WAT / 7pm EAT
Live online via Zoom
Free registration: https://byta.co/hwl-live-chioma-onuchukwu
Streaming giants such as Spotify have spread their footprint across 40+ African countries, while more recently Nigeria’s Boomplay & uduX Music are making waves. Major labels and music organisations have opened offices in Africa, including Believe’s TuneCore. Our next guest is Chioma Onuchukwu, Head of TuneCore, West & East Africa. She is perfectly positioned to provide some insights into the African music ecosystem. How is the music from the African continent influencing the global music market? What can we learn from the way music is promoted and distributed there, and how has streaming changed the playing field? Based in Nigeria, Chioma oversees countries in West Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. In East Africa, she also looks after Tanzania and Ethiopia. Chioma is dedicated to understanding and supporting the needs of local artists and securing partnerships beneficial to their success and the growth of TuneCore in her markets.
Partnering with Byta.com on this month’s event is Women in Music, Nigeria. Established in 2021, Women in Music Nigeria is a chapter of WIM that is dedicated to fostering equality in the music industry through the support and advancement of women. Providing knowledge, strategy & solutions to our members and the greater community is their driving purpose.
This is a monthly online event that will be presented in two parts:
- A workshop: Tips & insights for tomorrow’s artists & music industry leaders with Byta founder Marc Brown.
- An in-depth interview with Chioma Onuchukwu: She will talk about the African music ecosystem, how it is evolving and why everyone should be paying attention.
About the Event
This series is designed to deliver the knowledge to enable tomorrow’s artists and industry leaders to better manoeuvre their way through the music ecosystem. Providing fun and insightful Q&A along the way!
#HowWeListen Live: In Conversation is hosted by Byta’s founder, Marc Brown, whose deep music business background and digital audio knowledge have helped him deliver unique insights to audiences from Tallinn to Toronto. Marc is a former label owner, A&R, manager and radio plugger.
Key takeaways:
- How is the African music ecosystem evolving?
- Can partnerships help gain entry into the market?
- What festivals should artists and their teams focus on?
- Where are the most vibrant music scenes on the African continent?
- What makes Nigeria’s music ecosystem so successful?
- Why do we need to pay attention to this growing market?
Free registration: https://byta.co/hwl-live-chioma-onuchukwu
Event Format
#HowWeListen Live (part 1):
The workshop will introduce industry insights that Marc has picked up from his work in A&R departments, running his own radio promotion company, plus years of experience managing artists and significant large-scale projects. Some of the topics he will touch on include artists’ teams, timelines and connecting the web of the music industry. Plus, most importantly, tips on what you can do yourself to better increase the chances of your success.
#HowWeListen In Conversation (part 2):
Each event will feature an in-depth one-to-one conversation. This time around our guest is Chioma Onuchukwu, who will introduce us to the African music ecosystem. Artists and their teams will benefit from her insights into how to promote their music to the wide variety of markets there. What are some of the unique ways that the music industry works in Africa? Why does it suddenly feel like such a hot market? Is there room in Africa for your music?
About Byta
Byta (“Bee-tah”: the Swedish word for exchange) is unrivalled in taking advantage of the unique properties found in audio files. By simplifying the reading and writing of file metadata, conversion of file formats and delivery of fast yet secure streaming, the platform enables everyone to send and receive digital audio in a clean, simple and secure way. Byta has also launched #HowWeListen, a not-for-profit organisation that complements the company’s ultimate goal: providing artists and their teams with the tools and knowledge needed to move their careers forward.
About Chioma Onuchukwu
Chioma Onuchukwu is Head of TuneCore, West & East Africa.
Before joining TuneCore, Chioma worked as the Marketing Manager at uduX Music, a Nigerian music streaming platform, where she worked with artists like Davido, Yemi Alade, Patoranking, Kizz Daniel and more. Since August 2021 she also sat on the Women in Music Nigeria board as the chapter’s Co-Chair. Chioma holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Imo State University, Nigeria and an MBA in General Management from the University of Hull, UK. She has a strong background in brand & digital marketing and strategic partnerships. In her role overseeing West & East Africa, Chioma is dedicated to understanding and supporting the needs of local artists and securing partnerships beneficial to their success and the growth of TuneCore in her markets. Owned by the Parisian company, Believe, TuneCore is the leading global DIY distributor for independent musicians and labels.
About Marc Brown
Marc is the founder of Byta / byta.com. Run as a distributed team across three continents, Byta enables sending and receiving of digital audio in a clean, simple and secure way. Built for everyone working with music today.
He has an extensive music business background and considerable digital audio knowledge, which have helped him deliver unique insights to audiences from Tallinn to Toronto.
Marc got his start at murderecords, Canada’s premier artist-owned label, during the mid-90s. After working in A&R at the legendary London indie, Creation Records, and then at Alan McGee’s Poptones, Marc started his own boutique UK radio promotion company off the back of his success with The Hives. For over ten years, Marc worked with an impressive list of indie rock luminaries, including Wilco, Bloc Party, Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes, Spoon, and Refused as well as legends such as Tom Waits, Yoko Ono, Booker T and Mavis Staples.
Marc currently lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.