The inaugural Music Business Awards Africa (MBAA) will take place on 21 November 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Sandton in Johannesburg, recognising individuals and organisations working behind the scenes to develop and sustain the African music industry.
The awards recognise the professionals and organisations working behind the scenes to develop artists’ careers and grow the music industry. In the photo: Music industry professionals at a previous ACCES event.
The awards aim to highlight the contributions of professionals whose work supports artists’ careers, including managers, A&R executives, songwriters, publishers, record labels, booking agencies, publicists, legal practitioners, educators and event organisers.
“For years, I’ve watched the music industry celebrate what audiences see on stage, while many of the people responsible for building those careers remain largely invisible,” MBAA founder Gift Mdlalose said. “Managers, A&Rs, publishers, lawyers, PR professionals, booking agents, educators and music companies are critical to the ecosystem. The Music Business Awards Africa was created to give that side of the industry its own credible platform for recognition.”
The awards include individual, company and special merit categories covering different aspects of the music business.
Individual categories 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 recognise work in areas such as independent record labels, artist management, music publishing, music law, live music events, booking agencies, public relations and marketing, music education, and music business conferences. The awards also recognise platforms that help artists reach new audiences and access opportunities.
The Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases (ACCES) has been nominated for Music Business Conference of the Year. The public can vote for ACCES through the awards’ official website.
Beyond recognising industry achievements, the awards seek to raise awareness of career opportunities beyond performing and highlight the professional and commercial networks that support the growth of African music.
As African music reaches wider international audiences, the work of professionals involved in talent development, rights management, marketing, live events and commercial strategy remains an important part of the industry’s growth.
