SA: YouTube Music announces Triple M fund recipients

The news follows a call for funding applications published in April. The successful applicants include GUMBA – Alliance, Join Bands Not Gangs, Mad Genius Media and the Moses Taiwa Molelekwa Art Foundation. The organisations provide opportunities for upliftment to young people in South Africa through music and production skills development.

Triple M received 15 applications from organisations in the Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and North West provinces, and the final applicants were chosen by a panel of execs for their outstanding proposals detailing plans to support and grow the development of musical and creative content in South Africa.

The grantees will also receive mentorship from South African musicians and industry professionals Busiswa, Oskido Major League DJz and Siya Metane.

“The quality of proposals we received in the application process was outstanding and refreshing,” Black Stripe Foundation executive director Ben Cashdan said. “That said, the selection process was rigorous and we are confident that we are supporting projects that will have a positive impact in local communities and for emerging talent.”

YouTube’s head of content partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa, Addy Awofisayo, said: “Under the tutelage of music industry heavyweights, Busiswa, Major League DJs, Oskido and Siya Metane, grant recipients will receive top-notch mentorship and training to get them on a path towards the successful implementation of their projects.”

YouTube is currently accepting applications for its 2022 #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund. The initiative provides one-on-one training and assists participants with networking skills. 

Separately, short-video platform TikTok, in partnership with the South African National Film and Video Foundation, announced the first grant recipients of its Rising Voices initiative, with 20 creators receiving cash grants worth R860 000. They include musicians and dancers, among other creators, such as thozimusic, callherthato, sphokuhle.n and doctor.siya. The creators were originally part of a group of 100 participants who took part in a six-week incubator programme, which aimed to help creators of colour to build bigger audiences on TikTok.

“During the programme, it was inspiring to see participants fully immerse themselves in creating quality content, participating in the masterclasses and taking to collaboration and connecting with each other with great enthusiasm,” TikTok’s content operations manager for Africa, Boniswa Sidwaba, said.