Marathon Music Group‘s in-house imprint MOVES Recordings has entered into a wide-ranging agreement with Afrobeats festival Afro Nation.
The exclusive collaboration will see MOVES Recordings and Afro Nation curate a series of new music, packaged in various formats, from playlists to themed EPs.
Afro Nation Vol #1 will be the first in this ongoing series with each volume to be released between festivals and featuring both artists who have performed at Afro Nation, and acts that are scheduled to appear in the future.
Tracks included on forthcoming volumes will be a collaboration between some of the biggest artists and producers from various countries in Africa and their counterparts from global diasporas.
The majority of the new Afro Nation music series has been A&R’d using WhatsApp, with demos, agreements and contracts exchanged via the free messaging app.
The first in the series Afro Nation Vol #1 is scheduled for release in November with a single, Your Love (Mogbe) by Boj and Tiwa Savage, which shines a light on Nigeria’s Alté scene.
High-profile radio support has already been confirmed from, among others, Ebro Darden on Beats 1.
The next instalment of the series, Afro Nation Vol #2, will be recorded at a writing camp in Ghana during the forthcoming Afro Nation Festival , which takes place between December 27-30 in the country’s capital, Accra.
This volume is currently scheduled for release in February 2020.
“We are delighted to be working with Afro Nation – they’ve had a massive impact in a small space of time by teaming passion for music with a fine grasp of logistics- a combination we have always aspired to ourselves at MOVES Recordings.”
Ian McQuaid, MOVES Recordings
Ian McQuaid, MOVES Recordings Head of A&R said: “We are delighted to be working with Afro Nation – they’ve had a massive impact in a small space of time by teaming passion for music with a fine grasp of logistics- a combination we have always aspired to ourselves at MOVES Recordings.
“Curating the first instalment of the Afro Nation EP series has been a pleasure; songs and verses have flown back and forth across the African continent and diaspora, developing as they go, and the breadth and musical innovation of everyone involved has been inspiring. There’s such an excitement and energy around the project, we can’t wait to share it with the world..”
“MOVES Recordings’ track record of breaking Afrobeats hits made them the ideal partner to join up with. We’re looking forward to some amazing releases to come!”
Obi Asika, Afro Nation
Obi Asika, co-founder of Afro Nation, added: “Afro Nation are excited to take a next step in supporting the culture by releasing music from the hottest new African artists from round the globe.
“MOVES Recordings’ track record of breaking Afrobeats hits made them the ideal partner to join up with. We’re looking forward to some amazing releases to come.”
“MOVES Recordings and Afro Nation share an innovative eye in how the culture can evolve and expand into new spaces within the industry.”
Kofi Kyei, MOVES Recordings
Kofi Kyei, MOVES Recordings Head of Marketing, said: “MOVES Recordings and Afro Nation share an innovative eye in how the culture can evolve and expand into new spaces within the industry.
“There’s a huge sense of professional and personal pride with this collaboration. As tracks have come through from across the globe, these curations really are touch points of the philosophy and dense spectrum of Afrobeats as a genre.”
“Finally! There are no barriers to creators from all over the world to be working together and no regional markets any more in the new music industry, this is how and why we’ve built the Marathon Music Group.”
Paul-Rene Albertini, Marathon Music Group
Paul-Rene Albertini, CEO Marathon Music Group said, “Finally! There are no barriers to creators from all over the world to be working together and no regional markets any more in the new music industry, this is how and why we’ve built the Marathon Music Group.”
Pictured [Left to Right]: Ian McQuaid and Kofi Kyei, the Head of A&R and Head of Marketing respectively at MOVES Recordings.Music Business Worldwide
