AFRICA (CelebrityAccess) – Marathon Music Group’s in-house imprint MOVES Recordings has announced an exclusive agreement with Afrobeats festival Afro Nation.
The deal will see MOVES Recordings and Afro Nation joining forces to curate a series of new music playlists and themed EPs featuring both artists who have performed at Afro Nation, and acts that are scheduled to appear in the future, according to MBW.
Interestingly, the majority of the new Afro Nation music series has reportedly been A&R’d using WhatsApp.
Of the collaboration, 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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
The first installment in the series Afro Nation Vol #1 is scheduled for release in November. Meanwhile, Afro Nation Vol #2 will reportedly be recorded at an upcoming writing camp in Ghana during this year’s Afro Nation Festival (December 27-30) and is slated for release in February 2020.
