5 Things To Know About Much Anticipated Make Music Lagos

Each year, over 1,000 cities around the world throw citywide music celebrations on June 21. It all started 39 years ago in France. In 1982, France’s Ministry of Culture dreamed up an idea for a new kind of musical holiday. They imagined a day where free, live music would be everywhere: street corners and parks, rooftops and gardens, storefronts, and mountaintops. Unlike a typical music festival, anyone and everyone is invited to join or play music and host performances. The event usually takes place on the summer solstice, June 21, and is called Fete De La Musique. In French, it means “festival of music” and “make music”

Interestingly, this dream has come true and three decades later, ‘Make Music’ is now celebrated in more than 120 countries. In 2016 Make Music Day activities found another unique home in Lagos Nigeria and has since organized over 100 musical events and over 500 artists have performed on the Make Music Lagos platform.

Here are some things to know about this exciting event, taking place from the 21st to 27th June 2021, where free live musical performances take place:

.Make Music Lagos is open to everyone: Regardless of age or skill level, this week-long event calls for people to pour into their communities and share music with the world. Anyone and everyone is invited to join and play free, live music at street corners and parks, rooftops and gardens, storefronts, and mountaintops. Every kind of musician, young and old, amateur, and professional, of every musical persuasion, is invited to share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers. All of it is free and open to the public. The idea is to make music everywhere, all week long. It is the largest global celebration of music on World Music Day.

.This is the 6th edition of Make Music Lagos: Make Music Lagos has grown steadily since the first event. In 2016, there were just three events and about 35 performances. By 2017, the number of concerts increased to 12 with about 120 musicians performing. In 2018, the event grew to include 21 concert venues with about 200 artists, groups, and bands performing. In 2019, more venues were spread across the city to ensure full participation without people having to travel out of their neighborhood. The initiative has grown in leaps and bounds and has contributed to the advancement of the music scene in Nigeria by providing free platforms and experiences for fans, artists, brands, and industry organisations. The goal is for everyone to find the music in them and join the celebration however they can.

.MTN Nigeria is sponsoring 5 events in this year’s edition: MTN is well known for its support of the Nigerian entertainment industry. The commitment to supporting artists to achieving global prominence led to the partnership with Make Music Lagos. This year, MTN is sponsoring the MTN Live from Home Concert, where talented artists like Peaches, Daniella Orji, David Operah, Banke, KhemmieSings, and others will be delivering mind-blowing performances on their Instagram pages. My Song is Your Song which includes the MTN’s Best Cover Challenge is another event category, with prizes to be won. New Music Marathon happening on the 23rd of June, to be aired on Y’ello Top 10 is also a sponsored event by MTN. One exciting event also sponsored is the Music Business Conference, taking place on the 24th of June, which includes two-panel sessions to discuss ‘The structure and future of the music business and an interesting discussion on ‘Women inclusion in the music business. To wrap the celebration on 26th June is the biggest stage of them all, the Virtual Shutdown Concert hosted by The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON Centre) and supported by MTN. The Shutdown event will be a hybrid event this year with A-list artists like Iyanya, Brymo, Femi Leye, MI Abaga, and Dotti of MTN Y’ello Star performing.

.The various challenges and opportunities in music will be discussed: At the music business conference on the 24th of June, at Muson center, Senior Manager Digital Products, MTN, Funso Finnih, Founder, Slice Media, Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi, Talent Manager and Music Business Academy Convener, Godwin Tom, amongst others will sit on a panel to discuss “The Structure and Future of the Music Business” It is a gathering of industry leaders, speaking on the opportunities and challenges in the music business and the way forward.

Dotti, the Deity will be performing at the shutdown concert: To wrap the celebration on 26th June is the biggest stage of them all, the Virtual Shutdown Concert hosted by The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON Centre) and supported by MTN. The Shutdown event is a hybrid event, with A-list artists like Iyanya, Brymo, Femi Leye, MI Abaga, and Dotti of MTN Y’ello Star performing.

There you have it, Make Music Lagos is ready for you this week and whatever you do, do not miss out on all the events, excitement, and opportunities. Make Music Lagos is a member of the Make Music Alliance (the global body promoting the World Music Day with HQ in New York), and the organizing partners for 2021 are Showgear, Zannoza Entertainment, IPC events, Schullz66, Alienation, and IMPREVA. Supported by MTN, TuneCore & Slice Media. To know more about the lineup of events, please visit www.makemusiclagos.org or the official social media pages @makemusiclagos.