VIP ACCESS

Anyiko wraps up this essential conversation on How Streaming Revenue & Music Distribution Really Work with 3 women shaping Africa’s digital music economy:

Martha Huro (ex-Boomplay EA), Agnes Opondo (A&R Executive) and Beth Achitsa (The Orchard EA).

If you’ve ever asked: what does my distributor actually do? This episode is for you. In this episode, we move from theory to practice, unpacking what artists must do to earn sustainably and grow long-term careers in the digital age.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

1. Streaming alone isn’t enough: visibility, marketing and PR are critical to driving streams and income

2. Understanding royalties, split sheets and metadata is non-negotiable

3. Data and analytics are powerful tools for decision-making, not just numbers

4. Distribution is a partnership - know your distributor’s role and what they offer beyond uploads

5. Sustainable careers are built through structure, strategy and ecosystem thinking.

From monetisation gaps to winning strategies and how to seize opportunities, this is an honest conversation on how to move with intention.

NEXT UP: Episode 3 will be about ownership and how artists can protect their work. Stay tuned, drops next week.

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#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko Season 5 Eps 2

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On VIP ACCESS Season 5 opener episode, Anyiko hosts 3 leading women at the forefront of Africa’s digital music economy.

• Martha Huro, Former Managing Director for East Africa at Boomplay Music, shares insights on the importance of artists branding, structure and leveraging on your data.
• Agnes Opondo, A&R Music Executive, unpacks distribution and marketing strategies for growing your fanbase, building sustainable music ecosystems and fair monetisation in Africa’s music industry.
• Beth Achitsa, Head of East Africa at The Orchard, who discusses the role of your distributor, artist development and where African music stands when it comes to streaming revenue. Together, they explore the opportunities, challenges and future of music in the digital age.

Music streaming can be a major source of income, but for many emerging artists with lower streams, it often falls short. While top-tier acts may cash in on royalties alone, most need marketing and PR to boost visibility and streams. In this episode, we break down streaming royalties, the role of split sheets and analytics, and the key steps artists need to take to earn sustainably, grow their audience and maximize revenue across digital platforms.

If you’ve ever wondered how streaming royalties really work, how to grow your audience and revenue online, this episode is for you. 

Our podcast this week breaks down the realities of the African music industry, sharing practical insights and strategies to help artists navigate the digital music ecosystem with confidence and purpose.

NEXT UP: Part 2 of How Streaming Revenue & Music Distribution Really Work, drops next week.

FOR MORE:

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/VIPACCESSwithANYIKO⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/anyikotv/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/industrytalks_ke/⁠ 

TikTok: ⁠www.tiktok.com/@anyikotv⁠ 

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#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko Season 5 Eps 1

Share this episode with someone who might benefit, leave us a review and join us next week for Part 2.

Welcome to VIP ACCESS, a culture and industry podcast taking you inside how the creative sector really works. Hosted by Anyiko Owoko, this season goes beyond the art to explore the systems, policies and people shaping today’s music and media industries.

Season 5 of VIP ACCESS premieres Tuesday, 13 January 2026. New episodes drop every other Tuesday, wherever you get your podcasts: https://linktr.ee/vipaccesspodcast

For the first time, VIP ACCESS takes you directly to the industry. Season 5 features unfiltered conversations with experts across music distribution, intellectual property, licensing and publishing, film scoring, podcasting, festival curation, event production, new media entrepreneurship + more!

VIP ACCESS SEASON 5 CREDITS:

Creator, Host & Producer: Anyiko Owoko

Executive Producers: Anyiko Public Relations & Goethe-Institut Nairobi 

Original VIP ACCESS theme song by Provoke 

Sound Design: Musyoka at Decimal Records & Ronin Productions

Post Production Editors: Fidel Maithya & Anyiko Owoko

VO Production: SemaBOX Africa

Videography & editing: Geoffrey Muthui & Unc.siwaka

BTS Photography: Humphrey Gateri & Jamie Intwari

Cover Art Photography: Lyra Aoko

Graphic Design: Oscar Wanjie & Jesse Itemere

Special Thanks to Goethe-Institut Nairobi and AUMEX Uganda – Amplifying Uganda’s Music Industry for supporting season 5.

#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko Season 5

Evajay is a dynamic and multi-talented Nigerian music artist from Port Harcourt. His skills range from singing, songwriting, music production and performance. From soulful ballads to upbeat dance tracks, his music is an eclectic blend of styles. His passion for music began at an early age, as he honed his craft as a bass player in his local church band.

In this interview he takes me through the push and pull of dabbling in engineering and music. Following his graduation from the university, Evajay pursued a career as a petroleum engineer, but his love for music never faded. Drawing on his years of experience and self-taught skills, in 2023 Evajay decided to follow his heart and pursue music full-time. As he evolves, Evajay’s unique style and approach to music continues to gain him a loyal following.

Check out his single & video “Kununu” via https://ingrv.es/kununu-nov-9

#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #Evajay #Nigeria Season 4 Eps 21

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Jess White is the director and founder of Akum Agency and also a very good friend of mine. He works as an Artist Manager, Booking Agent, Music Consultant and Creative Producer.

Jess White is a creative and dynamic artist manager, booking agent, music consultant and event producer, providing a platform to music, the arts and creative expression in South Africa, the region and beyond. In 2014, he founded Akum Agency, an independent artist management, booking agency, music consultancy, event promotion and creative production company.

Akum Agency represents a diverse roster of artists from South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya, Sudan, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Cameroon/New Zealand, nurturing their respective talents and building their profile to national and international audiences.

As an arts and music consultant White has vast experience in event and festival management, music export, event and festival programming, financial management, music video production, marketing, logistics, workshop facilitation, reporting writing to and music journalism.

Past clients have included: Australasian Worldwide Music Expo, Apple Music, Azgo Festival, Beneath the Baobabs Festival, Blankets & Wine Festival, The British Council, Bushfire Festival, Concerts SA, First Floor Gallery, Igoda, IOMMa, JazzFest Berlin, Joburg Art Fair, Littlegig, Luju Festival, Music In Africa, Modzi Arts Gallery, Ongala Festival, OSISA, Platoon, Pro Helvetia, Nafasi Art Space, Sakifo Festival, Sauti za Busara Festival, Visa For Music, Zakifo Festival and more.

#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #JessWhite #Australia #SouthAfrica Season 4 Eps 20

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Do2dtun aka Energy gAD is Nigeria’s biggest hype master with energy like no other. In fact, in this interview he expounds on how he managed to commercialize hype and energy throughout his notable career in the entertainment industry. He is also one of Nigeria's most respected media personalities and industry movers and shakers. He is an on-air media personality, an actor, a TV Host and media entrepreneur. He gained widespread recognition as a TV and Radio personality, hosting shows and concerts, after founding a dance group called Xtreme Dancers and appearing in popular music videos for songs.

Do2dtun is well-versed with the African entertainment and music scene, having toured and traveled extensively, even sharing a stage with major stars like Ice Prince and Olamide. This, alongside his other passion of bringing out the hype in anything or at any event, has made him one of Africa's leading cultural influencers and one of Nigeria's most bankable event MCs. He has inspired a young generation of entertainers and creatives with his positive attitude, wonderful voice, proper words and charm. He is now entering an era of using his power and networks to connect creatives across Africa to share skills and knowledge so as to move Africa's entertainment industry forward.

#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #Do2dtun #Nigeria Season 4 Eps 19

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Barak Jacuzzi is a Nairobi rapper raised in Kenya and the United States. He spent most of his life between Kenya and the US and this has influenced his general outlook and approach to pop culture. In this interview, Barak shares his love for his Nairobi lifestyle and desire to one day settle down and have kids or a baby mama. Over the years Barak has built a steady brand as an all rounded public figure. He says that people know him either as a socialite or their favourite rapper, radio personality, crush or sometimes the public figure some people don't like. And he's ok with all that. The self proclaimed coco master is an advocate for more vibes or "more juice" as he likes to put it. His discography includes 'The Juice Bar' (2017), 'The Juice Bar 2' (2019), 'The Juice Bar 3' (2022) and with an upcoming conceptual album featuring Silvertone Barz. Get ready for more juice because he says there hasn't been a Kenyan album with a concept this sick!

#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #BarakJacuzzi #Kenya Season 4 Eps 18

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Kenyan singer-songwriter TheOnlyRosa's music is influenced by 90s Pop music. Her melodic style reflects her love for African Soul and R&B. A career in music was always on the horizon for her as she started writing songs at the age of 12 and everybody she met was struck by her vocals and encouraged her to take music as a profession. Her proficiency in languages was an advantage as she could also write songs in Swahili and Chinese. She is also a visual artist and loves painting and drawing just as much as singing.

TheOnlyRosa is today one of Kenya's most distinct urban and pop artists. Her ability to tug her fans' heartstrings with her sweet vocals, witty storytelling and captivating performances has made her a household name. In this interview, we both discover that we share a first name (at least parts of it) and a very similar story on personal identity and how that either gives or takes away your self confidence.

Rosa's discography includes 'Original Copy', 'Waves' EP (2020) and 'ROSA LAND' album (2022).

Stream 'ROSA LAND' album here: https://platoon.lnk.to/rosa-land

#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #TheOnlyRosa #Kenya Season 4 Eps 17

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Akoth Jumadi’s music explores themes of love, healing, spiritual emancipation, political liberation and cultural integration in the arts. She started playing at Maseno University in Kisumu, when a friend gave her a subtle nudge by gifting her a guitar. Under the tutelage of a veteran guitarist, she started her journey as a musician. Over time an urge to explore more forms of musicality, she taught herself bass guitar to express her love for funk and jazz, inspired by Esperanza Spalding and her Luo roots called her to the nyatiti, an 8-stringed Luo lute that is traditionally only played by men. Under the guidance of Ati Sanaa, another female nyatiti player, Jumadi took steps that her grandfather had traced many years (he was a nyatiti player).

In this interview, we dissect Akoth’s first EP ‘Ere Yo’ (2020) and her first full length album ‘Yo Ni Ka’ (2022). Both the records are a collection of Akoth Jumadi’s experiences growing up, learning about herself and reflecting through her environment.

#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #AkothJumadi #Kenya Season 4 Eps 16

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Liboi is a Nairobi-based singer-songwriter who uses her creative ability to express human experience, question humanity and improve the well-being of the deprived in the society. It’s funny because at the start of this interview, I am almost conned on phone and she immmediately picks on the con and tells me, “Put down the phone. You are just about to be conned.” It’s almost her second nature how fast she is able to decipher what’s happening.

Liboi is a strong proponent for social change, culture and mental awareness. In fact, in this interview she talks about her own struggle with mental issues. “It’s normal”, she says. Her music blends traditional and popular African genres, she this she dubs African Contemporary Music. She is also a lover of percussions, and plays Kalimba and Duduk.

Through her music, Liboi has been able to embrace diverse themes from hope, mental health, life, love, patriotism, tribalism, peace, immigration and social ills. She has two EPS: ‘State of Being’ (2022) and ‘Safari’ (2023). Make sure you listen to her music.

#VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #Liboi #Kenya Season 4 Eps 15

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