The Centre national de la musique, in association with Expertise France, Impact Hub Accra, MoTAC, and CAA (Creative Art Agency), is looking for 12 artists (songwriters, topliners, producers of pop or rap music) to take part in a songwriting camp bringing together French and Ghanaian artists and songwriters. The project will take place from February 16 to 22 in Accra.
Presentation of the project
The CNM has joined forces with Expertise France, Impact Hub Accra, MoTAC (Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture) and CAA (Creative Art Agency) to contribute its expertise in professional training to a unique program dedicated to structuring the music publishing industry in Ghana. The program, developed following a study of local needs, began in early July at Impact Hub Accra, and is aimed at a selection of Ghanaian professionals. The training program, which runs until December 2024, will enhance the skills of Ghanaian music project owners and help structure the music publishing industry.
The program will culminate in a writing camp to be held in Accra between February 16 and 22, 2025, leading to business agreements between French and Ghanaian publishers.
The French music industry continues to thrive, particularly in the realm of streaming, where it ranks among the largest markets globally. According to figures from the CNM, France experienced a nearly 20% increase in streaming revenue in recent years, with platforms like Spotify and Deezer playing a pivotal role. Artists such as Aya Nakamura, David Guetta, and Christine and the Queens have enjoyed considerable international success, further proving the global appeal of French talent. Aya Nakamura and Yseult are some of the most streamed French-speaking artists worldwide, while David Guetta remains a powerhouse in the electronic music scene, collaborating with international superstars like Sia and Nicki Minaj.
Collaborating with French artists and songwriters offers exciting opportunities due to France’s rich and diverse musical landscape. French artists are known for blending traditional genres like chanson and classical music with modern influences such as electronic and urban music, leading to innovative sounds that appeal to global audiences. Additionally, France has a strong infrastructure for music creation and promotion, making French companies, songwriters and artists attractive collaborators for those seeking to expand into European and francophone markets, as well as tap into cutting-edge trends in global music production.
Songwriting Camp Project Schedule
Ghanaian participants are expected to be available in Accra from Monday February 17. Each day, participants will be divided into four groups and will work collectively in one of the four studios provided. This process will be repeated over the following days, with the presentation of new briefs and the formation of new working groups. The genre on which the writing sessions will focus will be “mainstream”, including Afrobeats, rap, r&b, soul, mainstream pop, singer-songwriter, highlife and other influences.
These sessions, connections, and experiences will allow Ghanaian and French songwriters and professional teams to make new partnerships and create new opportunities between the two countries. Over the week more than 20 songs will be created, many of them to be released in the following 12 months internationally.
The afternoon of Friday February 21 will be dedicated to listening to the results of these sessions in the presence of French and Ghanaian music industry professionals.
Terms and conditions of participation
The project partners will provide studio space, organisation and coordination of the writing teams and the listening session, accommodation in Accra and lunches.
Applications are open until Friday 1st November.
For further information, please contact Ben Ling(ben.ling@cnm.fr) and Benjamin Demelemester(benjamin.demelemester@cnm.fr).