Music as economic powerhouse: Inside the inaugural Music Policy Assembly in Lagos

By Bentex Torlafia

LAGOS, the pulsating heart of Africa’s creative industries, witnessed a landmark gathering on February 24, 2025. It was the inaugural Music Policy Assembly. Organised by the Center for Music Ecosystems in partnership with Global Citizen, the event marked the launch of the Music Economy Development Initiative (MEDI), a bold movement to unlock music’s full economic potential across Africa and beyond.

Held at the historic John K Randle Center for Yorùbá Culture and History, the assembly brought together industry giants, policymakers, intellectual property (IP) experts, investors, and artistes in a sold-out, invite-only event that was as insightful as it was transformative. From government officials to global music executives, the room buzzed with urgency, ambition and a collective resolve to reshape Africa’s music economy.

The Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy of Nigeria – Hannatu Musa Musawa set the tone with a powerful goodwill message, acknowledging music’s ability to drive economic diversification in alignment with the Presidential Priority No. 7 of Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The Minister highlighted recent government efforts, including the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS), the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF), and the newly approved Creative and Tourism Industries Infrastructure Corporation (CTICo), all geared towards strengthening the creative industries.

Beyond the speeches, the Music Policy Assembly was a wake-up call—a clarion declaration that Africa’s music industry can no longer be seen as just an artistic venture but as a formidable economic force.

A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of “We Need Tracks Before We Have Trains”, an eye-opening report co-authored by the former Chief Economist at Spotify, Will Page and the Executive Director of the Center for Music Ecosystems, Shain Shapiro. The report underscored an uncomfortable reality: despite Africa’s dominance in global music consumption, the continent accounts for less than 0.5% of global music copyright revenue. This economic imbalance, driven by weak copyright enforcement, poor infrastructure, and limited investment, continues to stifle Africa’s ability to monetise its musical brilliance.

Moderating the panel session on ‘Enforcing Copyright Infrastructure in Africa’ was Robert Baruch (left); Isioma Idigbe; Dr. Tobi Moody and Baba Agba at the Music Policy Assembly

As the Managing Director of Universal Music Africa, Franck Kacou aptly put it, “Music can become a leading driver of economic growth across Africa, but we must first build the right infrastructure—both physical and legal—to ensure that artistes and rights’ holders reap the benefits of their talent.”

The assembly featured high-impact panel discussions that addressed three fundamental pillars of Africa’s music economy:

Enforcing copyright infrastructure in Africa: Moderated by Robbert Baruch of Universal Music Group, this session tackled one of Africa’s most pressing music industry challenges—copyright protection. Experts including Tobi Moody (WIPO), Isioma Idigbe (ReLPI) and Baba Agba (Senior Adviser to Nigeria’s Minister for Film and Music) deliberated on strengthening IP frameworks to ensure that Africa’s music revenue remains within the continent. The consensus? IP laws must not only exist but be actively enforced and modernised to meet digital-age realities.

Touring infrastructure as economic development: Led by Liz Agbor-Tabi of Global Citizen, this panel examined the challenges of touring in Africa and its potential as a job-creation engine. With insights from Eddie Hatitye (Music in Africa Foundation) and Kyle Schofield (BK Arena Kigali), the discussion underscored the need for more live music venues, better logistics, and stronger regional cooperation to establish Africa as a viable global touring destination.

Financing music development in Africa: Money remains the lifeblood of any industry, and the music sector is no exception. This session, led by Xavier Reille of International Finance Corporations (IFC), panelists including Tega Oghenejobo (Mavin Records), Yemisi Falaye (The Temple Company), and Erezi Okpakpa (Nigerian Bank of Industry), explored the investment gaps in the music sector. The takeaway? Africa needs tailored financial models that provide patient capital, de-risking music as a viable investment option.

Beyond the discussions, the Music Policy Assembly was a dynamic networking hub designed to achieve music economy revolution in Africa. I engaged with fellow legal experts, policymakers, and music entrepreneurs, exchanging ideas on how intellectual property could be a game-changer in Africa’s music economy. The energy in the room was palpable—everyone understood that this was not just another industry event but the beginning of a movement.

The future looks promising. The roadmap set forth by MEDI includes pilot projects in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, with key findings to be presented at the Global Citizen NOW summit in New York later this year. If properly executed, these initiatives could revolutionise the African music ecosystem, ensuring that African artistes and rights’ holders finally benefit from the economic value they create.

Africa’s music industry is standing at the crossroads of culture and commerce. The Music Policy Assembly was a bold step towards cementing music as an economic pillar, but the real work starts now. Strengthening copyright laws, investing in touring infrastructure, and securing financial backing are non-negotiables if Africa is to claim its rightful share of the global music economy.

As I left the John K Randle Center, I couldn’t help but feel inspired. The momentum has begun, and there is no turning back. We no longer just listen to the music; we must also build the tracks that allow it to move, grow, and generate wealth where it is made. Africa is not just a sound. Africa is an economy. And it’s time the world recognises it.

* Torlafia is an Intellectual Property law expert, lecturer and researcher passionate about the intersection of law, creativity, digital entertainment and business. He actively advocates for stronger IP protections in Africa’s creative industries