London, 15th November 2023
- The biggest and most influential independent Afrobeats label Mavin Records announced today the second cohort of its Mavin Future Five talent programme.
Launched in 2021, Mavin Future Five is a talent programme that offers five aspiring music industry professionals the opportunity to learn about the music business via hands-on participation in the label’s day-to-day running via internships across Digital, A&R, New Business, PR & Promotions and Creative Marketing.
The programme is a first in the Africa entertainment industry and sees Mavin continue to support the future growth and scaleability of the Afrobeats scene, creating structures for career progression for young people into the industry where previously there was a gap, by investing in bringing through next generation industry talent.
In May of this year, Mavin opened the second round of Mavin Future Five for applications, and is proud to announce that the next set of beneficiaries are Precious Kassie (Creative Marketing), Akinwunmi Popoola (Digital Content), Toyin Ajewole (Partnerships), Christabel Rapuluchukwu (A&R), Success Odugala (Promotions).
The programme is aimed at preparing the next generation of Afrobeats industry executives by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to innovate in ideas and processes that can further improve the genre – both sonically and commercially. As well as working alongside the talent Mavin label team, the inaugural set of the Mavin Future Five programme received mentorship from an array of music industry experts such as Asa Asika, Osi Suave, Efe Omoregbe, Temi Adeniji, Alexander ‘Andre Vibez’ Uwaifo, Jade Busola amongst others.
Mavin’s Director of Operations, Jennifer Imion said “This year, we had over double the number of applicants, which shows how much a programme like Mavin Future Five is needed in the industry here in Nigeria. We were looking at hundreds of applications and it wasn’t easy choosing the final five with such a volume of high quality applications. Mavin aims to properly integrate each of our five exceptional candidates into the business and help them realise their full potential, as part of our ongoing commitment to championing next-generation talent. They are diamonds in the rough and all have the potential to be brilliant future leaders of this industry. We look forward to seeing what they’re capable of.”
‘‘One of our major criteria is passion and a willingness to learn. We are looking to equip future entrepreneurs and music business professionals with transferable knowledge that can help them forge a career path and secure the future of the music business” Tega Oghenejobo, COO of Mavin Global said “We are really passionate about educating and training the incoming generation. Right now in Nigeria, you cannot go to college to learn the music business and there are few routes into the industry for young talent. This is the gap that we look to highlight and help solve in our way with the Mavin Future Five programme.”
As Mavin Records continues to lay down the marker for what collaborative growth and innovation should look like in the industry, the label founder and CEO, Don Jazzy is further inspired to do more; “I’m excited about the Mavin Future Five programme and the growth of the past beneficiaries. I stay in touch with them after the programme and they’re doing brilliant things and continue to have a relationship with Mavin. We look to support more young people in the ecosystem who are resolute in their commitment to growing and advancing this industry.”
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About MAVIN: Founded by Don Jazzy on May 8, 2012, MAVIN is Africa’s biggest music label and home to some of Afrobeats’ best and most famed artists, producers, and music industry professionals. Finding roots in Mo’Hits Records – the defining African label of the early 2000s, also owned by Don Jazzy and D’Banj – MAVIN is a hybrid of the legacy of that era and Don Jazzy’s vision for the future of Afrobeat. MAVIN’s roster boasts of multi-talented serial hitmakers such as Johnny Drille, Ladipoe, REMA, AYRA STARR and Crayon, amongst others. The label was also once home to Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, Altims, Baby Fresh and Iyanya. In January 2019, MAVIN secured a multi-million dollar investment from Kupanda Holdings, a subsidiary of Kupanda Capital and TPG Grow and inspired the label’s repositioning into Mavin Global and the company’s expansion into innovative services such as partnerships, content production, publishing and marketing.
Mavin Future Five: Mavin is building a global music powerhouse and the Mavin Future Five will join the movement. The Mavin Future Five will be a quinary of the most curious, creative and proactive music enthusiasts. A 6-Month Internship program at Mavin Global will offer candidates mentorship from the best in the business, equipping them with valuable industry experience in the continent’s biggest music label. The programme is one of the first of its kind in the Africa entertainment industry.
