Spotify’s Equal program recently held a significant event in Nairobi aimed at equipping women artists with essential skills to navigate the music industry.
The event provided training on using Spotify for Artists effectively, financial literacy education and media training for interviews.
The initiative is part of Spotify’s broader Equal program, launched in 2021 to address gender inequalities in the music industry. The program selects monthly ambassadors who receive editorial support, social media promotion and advertising in major cities.
“We have a monthly ambassador that gets editorial support, communications support, social media support and out-of-home support, so we see African artists being highlighted in huge places,” Jodie Tabisher, who manages Artist & Label Partnerships for Spotify in Southern Africa and leads the Equal Africa program said. “Being a part of the program means you get an increase in streams.”
Several Kenyan artists have already benefited from the program. Njerae, Xenia Manasseh, Fena Gitu, Nikita Kering’ and Ssaru have been featured as Equal ambassadors.
The recent Nairobi event brought together prominent figures from Kenya’s music scene, including Njerae, Atemi Oyungu, Amani, Janet Otieno, Miss Kamweru, Ythera, Wangechi and We Are Nubia.
The program addresses current industry challenges, but Tabisher expressed hope for future change.
“It would be great if one day we don’t have to specify women creators over men creators or female artists over male artists. It would be great in the future to be very equal,” Tabisher said.
As the music industry continues to evolve, programs like Equal help African women artists build sustainable careers by offering practical skills alongside promotional support, working toward a future where such targeted programs may no longer be necessary.
