The Sarz Academy announced a relationship with YouTube Music to train emerging Nigerian producers and songwriters on May 17.
The three-day workshop is part of YouTube’s Future Insiders initiative and is aimed to help budding producers and songwriters enhance their talents and abilities through hands-on training from famous music and industry leaders
“We founded the Sarz Academy in 2015 to help creatives thrive in the creative and business of entertainment,” said Osabuohien Osaretin, popularly known as Sarz, Founder of the Sarz Academy. Our objective has always been to help turn the enormous potential that exists in the music creative space into genuine accomplishments. We recognize that, although many young Nigerians possess the necessary abilities for the industry, many are unable to create a successful music career owing to a lack of grasp of the business and production foundation”
YouTube announced earlier this week that a series of activities commemorating Africa Month would take place throughout the month of May. The initiatives, including the Future Insiders’ workshop, are meant to bring attention to and show appreciation for the artists and creatives who are moving Africa’s music business forward.
“We are delighted to be working with the Sarz Academy to present the Future Insiders program. At YouTube, we’ve always been committed to supporting the next generation of music creatives out of Africa, and we are thrilled at the opportunity to connect the impactful work of the YouTubeBlackVoices Fund with The Sarz Academy’s efforts to support the artistic aspirations of Nigerian music creatives,” says Addy Awofisayo, YouTube’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa.
Future Insiders is part of the Black Voices Fund’s Music Community Pillar, which exposes and educates young people worldwide. Future Insiders has worked with community–Oriented groups in New York, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Rio de Janeiro, Houston, Atlanta, London, Lagos, and Accra.
Not only will participants learn technical production and business skills, but they’ll also get one-on-one time with YouTube to connect and use the platform to drive the best engagement.
“In keeping with our purpose, the 2022 Future Insiders program will focus on the business and production sides of music, with the primary objective of assuring that new producers do not make the same errors as previous generations. This level of success demonstrates that we are on the right route, and we look forward to further sessions, the development of new hit-making producers, and the expansion of the Academy to more countries,” remarked Sarz Academy General Secretary Olajumoke Olayiwola
The Masterclass will be held at Ogidi Studios from May 25th to 27th, 2022, with attendees able to network and ask facilitators questions about the music industry. Interested participants can apply via the website
About the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund
YouTube established a $100 million initiative to amplify and nurture Black creators’ voices and stories. The fund was intended to highlight the intellectual force, authenticity, dignity, and joy of Black voices and educate audiences about racial justice. The fund has welcomed a global group of diverse artists, songwriters, and producers to its inaugural Class of 2021 and current Class of 2022. Through the resources provided — one-on-one support, seed funding, training, and networking programs — they have achieved incredible growth on YouTube and in their careers.
About the Sarz Academy
Founded by top-rated producer, Osabuohien Osaretin, popularly known as Sarz in 2015, The Sarz Academy is a non-governmental and non-profit organization dedicated to talent development, with the goal of training creatives to hone their skills and understand the business and structure to the art.
The founder, Sarz, envisions an ecosystem where entertainment and media enthusiasts have the power to transform the entertainment industry through skills and knowledge.
