Warner Music Launches New Division to Unite French-Speaking Africa and France
Warner Music Group has launched Warner Music Africa Francophone (WMAFR), a new venture operating across France and French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative combines the expertise of WM Africa, Africori, and WM France to better serve local artist communities and connect them to global audiences.
Two executives against dark background
The venture is co-directed by Marc-André Niang and Yoann Chapalain, who will maintain their current roles while leading WMAFR. Chapalain continues as A&R Manager at Africori, while Niang remains A&R Director for French Speaking African Repertoire at Warner Music France.
WMAFR aims to:
- Discover and develop regional artists
- Create cross-cultural collaborations
- Provide unified A&R, Digital, and Marketing support
- Connect local talent to Warner Music's global network
The timing is strategic, as Spotify recently reported that over 100 million listeners in non-Francophone countries are streaming French language music, with streams increasing 94% since 2019.
To support this initiative, the Warner Music Group/Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund has awarded grants to three Ivory Coast organizations: ACWAMA Foundation, The Boost Initiative by SIMA, and COSCI, focusing on music education and professional development in local communities.
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