Ninel Musson, a seasoned music promoter, financier, and creative maven, has dedicated her career to empowering Africa's music industry. With a background in cultural entrepreneurship, Musson co-founded the independent talent management agency Vth Season, which launched the careers of renowned South African artists such as AKA, Tresor, and Ami Faku. Her experiences in the industry have led her to create Music Business Lab (MBL), an institution that offers courses and training programs across the music value chain.
MBL's primary objective is to bridge the skills gap in the music industry, enabling creatives to build sustainable businesses and own their intellectual property. The organization's courses focus on practical skills, allowing participants to apply their knowledge immediately. With a faculty comprising working music professionals, MBL's programs provide real-world insights and case studies, rather than theoretical knowledge. This approach has enabled MBL to graduate over 100 independent music publishers and is approaching its fourth publishing cohort.
One of MBL's specialized programs focuses on music publishing, helping composers, songwriters, and rights holders register works, manage copyright, and collect royalties. The organization has established a relationship with the University of Pretoria, allowing graduates to receive a certificate. Additionally, MBL offers the MBL Bootcamp, a venture-sprint-type program designed for emerging music entrepreneurs. This program, run in collaboration with Constitution Hill, takes participants through value propositions, business models, and pitching, with music industry knowledge integrated into each stage.
Création Africa, a business incubation program organized by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of France, and the French Institute of South Africa (Ifas), has played a pivotal role in refining MBL's business model. As one of 15 finalists, MBL benefited from finance coaching sessions, mentorship, and a grant that enabled Musson to invest in the organization. This support allowed MBL to build an institution that could grow, rather than simply funding individual projects.
The grant enabled Musson to appoint a fractional chief of staff and faculty leadership, strengthening MBL's infrastructure. This experience also provided an opportunity for Musson to network with other cultural entrepreneurs, realizing that similar initiatives are underway across the continent. With a focus on expansion, Musson is exploring collaborations in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, and plans to launch a virtual learning platform for music entrepreneurs across Africa.
The virtual platform will enable MBL to offer its programs to individual learners across the continent, broadening its reach and impact. This development is particularly significant, given the job creation potential of the music industry, which extends into film, fashion, advertising, and gaming. By equipping creatives with practical skills, MBL aims to contribute to the growth of Africa's creative economy and the development of generational wealth.
As Musson looks to the future, she emphasizes the importance of capital investment in the creative sector and the need for great songs and music to be recognized as cultural assets and high-value assets. With MBL's continued growth and expansion, Musson's vision for a sustainable and thriving music industry in Africa is becoming a reality. The organization is poised to make a lasting impact on the continent's creative economy, empowering creatives to build successful businesses and own their value.
Key points
- Music Business Lab offers courses and training programs across the music value chain to equip Africa's music industry with practical skills.
- The organization has graduated over 100 independent music publishers and is approaching its fourth publishing cohort.
- MBL plans to launch a virtual learning platform for music entrepreneurs across Africa, broadening its reach and impact.
