I had the opportunity to speak at Black Tech Fest 2023 alongside Joel Borquaye from Spotify, with Sade Salami hosting the conversation. It was one of those discussions where we could be honest about where the music industry is heading and what creators actually need to succeed.
One of the things we talked about was how much the industry has changed over the years. There’s never been a better time to be an independent artist. The doors are more open than ever, but the game has changed too. It’s not just about making great music anymore—it’s about knowing the business, building relationships and creating something that makes people stop and take notice.
I also had the chance to share the story behind Beatsora, a platform I built to help emerging artists get access to the tools, knowledge and support I wish I’d had when I was starting out. The goal has always been simple: make the journey a little less overwhelming and help talented people focus on what they do best : creating.
Part of the session was hearing different perspectives from the audience. We talked about everything from the future of music ownership and new technology to what it really takes to build a long-term career in the industry.
If there was one message that came through during the conversation, it’s that there’s no magic formula. The people who create long-term success are the ones who keep improving, keep adapting and keep showing up, even on the days when it feels like no one notices.
A huge thank you to Black Tech Fest for inviting me to be part of the panel, to Sade for hosting such a great conversation, and to Joel for sharing his insights. It’s always inspiring to be in a room full of people who are passionate about pushing music and technology forward.
Hopefully, there’ll be plenty more conversations like this to come.