Leading music competition for African talents, Akinyemilaw Songwriting Contest has unlocked a new international partnership with Berlin-based publishing powerhouse, Wasted Talent.
The collaboration signifies the rising impact of the competition within the African music ecosystem pivoting from Nigerian to Ghana, two frontrunners of the Afrobeats global expansion. It also looks to enhance opportunities for songwriters to showcase their work to a global audience.
Entries have continued to pour in from participants in Nigeria and Ghana following a call for submission by organisers of the award for it’s sixth edition with $5,000 prize money. The first prize winner gets $4,000, while consolation cash prizes of $750 and $250 will go to the winners of the second and third spots, respectively. Additionally, Showgear, a live event company, will give the winners equipment worth $1,000.
“We are excited to partner with Wasted Talent Publishing, a company that shares our passion for creativity and commitment to supporting aspiring songwriters,” said Akinyemi Ayinoluwa, competition curator. Akinyemilaw Songwriting Contest. “Together, we will empower a new generation of musicians and provide them with the tools they need to succeed in the music industry.”
Wasted Talent Publishing’s Bjorn Deparade, Managing Director, commented, “Wasted Talent Publishing is proud to sponsor the Akinyemi Songwriting Contest by Amelia Songs, aligning with our mission to empower and support emerging songwriters and producers. This partnership is a step forward in fostering talent and inspiring the next generation of music creators on their artistic journeys.”
To apply, interested music talents from Nigeria and Ghana are expected to adhere strictly to qualification requirements. They are to create a 90-second original song (108-113 BPM) in any African genre with the title, ‘Come to my party.’ After this, they are required to upload the song to Instagram and audiomack with the hashtag #TalSongContest2024.
Akinyemilaw Songwriting Contest is named after African entertainment lawyer, Akinyemi Ayinoluwa who is passionate about empowering songwriters to leverage intellectual property to unlock generational wealth. Wasted Talent is a Berlin, Germany-based boutique music publishing company with global outlook dedicated to expanding the frontiers of songwriting with its roster of outstanding writers and artists.