JOEY AKAN
Music Journalist. Media Consultant.
Founder of Afrobeats Intelligence podcast.
“My mission has always been to transform Afrobeats Intelligence into an information hub while documenting a vital part of our culture.”
With over a decade of experience, Joey Akan is a distinguished Music Entertainment Maven, Media Consultant, and influential figure in the dynamic Afrobeats music landscape. Renowned for his adeptness in driving A&R and media projects for major labels, companies, and artists, Joey's expertise has left an indelible mark on the industry. As the founder of the award-winning podcast, Afrobeats Intelligence, boasting over a million streams, Joey continues to shape conversations and insights within the music community.
Over the years, he has become a multi-award-winning writer and music journalist, leading a team of creatives as the Music Editor of Pulse Nigeria for over five years. His insights have been featured in prominent publications such as The New York Times, The FADER, Quartz, The New Yorker, Mail & Guardian, DJBooth, Pulse, Guardian, OkayAfrica, Highsnobiety, CNN, and more.
LINKS: X (Twitter) - Instagram - YouTube - Substack
KEY TOPIC AREAS: Cultural Criticism, Storytelling + Media, Music/Cultural Trends, Music Technology, Diversity & Inclusion, Leadership, Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Music Journalism
SERVICES OFFERED:
Conversation Moderation
Guest Appearances (virtual/live events worldwide, podcasts, etc.)
Speaking engagements
Consultations
Content Writing
CNN, Medium, The New York Times, Quartz, The Conversation, Pitchfork, Substack, Highsnobiety, Pulse Nigeria, The Guardian (Nigeria), Audiomack, AllAfrica, Modern Ghana, The FADER, DJBooth, Pulse Ghana, Daily Maverick, Mail & Guardian, Okayafrica, Crack Magazine, Philadelphia Tribune, The Citizen (Tanzania), The Face, The Bradford Era, Pulse Live Kenya, The Nigerian Voice, Courier Express, T: The New York Times Style Magazine Singapore, Elombah News, Realnews, The News Chronicle, P.M. Express, Strangers Guide, Thisage, Afrobeats Intelligence
Recent Works and Features
Grey Inc: The "Business of Music" episode with Joey Akan. —Watch Here
The vibrant world of Nigerian music is colored by new market opportunities and infrastructural challenges. Music industry expert Joey Akan recently joined the Limitless by Gray podcast to share insights into the intricacies of the music landscape, his personal journey into journalism plus his top picks for songs and albums in 2023.
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During a live podcast recording, Joey Akan engaged in a compelling discussion with Victor Okpala, Spotify's Artist and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa. Their conversation explored a diverse array of topics, encompassing the achievements of Afrobeats, effective playlisting strategies, and Spotify's significant impact on the music ecosystem. This conversation marked Spotify’s celebration of over a billion Afrobeats streams.
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Joey Akan moderated a compelling conversation with United Masters CEO, Steve Stoute in December 2023. United Masters officially launched in Nigeria inciting the next generation of African artists to benefit from their distribution platform and remain owners of their masters.
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Joey Akan unwraps the limited edition Hiphop at 50 Notorious B.I.G. Pepsi special edition box.
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As a prolific journalist and podcaster, Joey’s articles can be primarily be found on Afrobeats Intelligence for his audience of over 25,000 subscribers. For an aggregated sample of his writing, check out Muck Rack.
WOrk with Joey AKAN
With an illustrious career in music journalism, Joey Akan brings a unique blend of business and media acumen to the table. His deep industry knowledge is the bedrock of his strategic insights. Unlock the power of media and music entertainment excellence for your next event or campaign.
For Joey’s full biography, portfolio and any additional questions —CONTACT US TODAY!