The advent of the Internet and the exponential development of new technologies have drastically changed our lives. For the music industry, especially in Africa, the Internet has brought with it a deep and progressive change that is affecting every aspect of the sector.

Are these current and future developments beneficial to all the actors in the industry, especially musicians? And what are the prospects for African music-makers, promoters, broadcasters and consumers in light of these new technologies?

Story from Music In Africa. Story by Laure Malecot.

The global internet boom (3.81 billion Internet users in 2017, or 51% of the world population, according to We Are Social) allows consumers to discover a wide range of artists. Nowadays, even without a record label, artists can be heard from anywhere on Earth, with musicians being discovered every day thanks to relatively simple communication strategies. Artists often do not end up seeing much success, yet prosperous careers are sometimes launched via the Internet, and for the first time in 20 years, thanks to music streaming platforms like Spotify, Google Play Music and Apple Music, music revenue is showing an uptick.

Despite being the second largest mobile market after the Asia-Pacific zone, Africa is the least covered region in the world. Less than half of Africa’s population is subscribed to mobile networks, and according to Internet Live Stats, only about 23% of Africans, or about 281 million people, have access to the Internet. Add to that below-standard networks, and many musicians on the continent are finding it difficult to enjoy as much Internet presence as their US, Asian or European counterparts, regardless of the fact that there is great interest in African music from outside the continent. But connectivity in Africa is on the increase and more artists on the continent are expected to be present online in the near future. This means that they will undoubtedly employ the technology available to their advantage, connecting with artists around the world and in the process creating new styles of African music.

Read more at Music In Africa.