The Music Business Awards Africa (MBAA) is introducing a dedicated platform to place the professionals and organizations shaping the continent’s music economy firmly in the spotlight.
Taking place on Saturday, 21 November 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Sandton, the inaugural event will honor the essential contributions of behind-the-scenes professionals who develop careers, protect intellectual property, and build the business infrastructure allowing music to thrive.
Spotlighting Behind-the-Scenes Visionaries
While traditional award shows focus primarily on performing artists, the broader music ecosystem relies heavily on managers, A&R executives, publishers, booking agents, publicists, legal experts, and educators.
The Music Business Awards Africa addresses this recognition gap by celebrating the individuals and companies driving commercial success and creative development across the sector.
Founder Gift Mdlalose created the platform after observing that the people responsible for building major careers often remain invisible to the public.
He emphasizes that managers, PR professionals, lawyers, and music companies are vital to the ecosystem and deserve a credible platform for recognition.
The Music Business Awards Africa (MBAA) Features Comprehensive Categories and Recognition
The inaugural ceremony features individual, company, and special merit categories that reflect the vast expertise required to build a sustainable industry.
Individual honors include Best Artist Manager of the Year, Best A&R Manager of the Year, Best Commercial Songwriter of the Year, Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year, Industry Champion Award, and Young Legend Award.
Company categories acknowledge excellence across independent record labels, artist management, music publishing, music law, live events, booking agencies, PR and marketing, music education, conferences, and amplification platforms. Together, these awards highlight the diverse disciplines required to expand the African music economy.
Inspiring the Future of African Music Business
Beyond celebrating current achievements, the Music Business Awards Africa aims to inspire the next generation by increasing awareness of non-performing career pathways.
As African music continues to expand its global footprint, elevating the visibility of industry professionals helps strengthen networks, attract investment, and ensure the business side of the sector keeps pace with its global impact.
The inaugural event takes place on 21 November 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Sandton. Updates, full nominee lists, and voting details are available at www.musicbusinessawards.com.
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
Want to promote your business, event, product or service? We get more than 14,000 pageviews a month! Contact us for marketing and advertising options.
