On Monday, Kenyan music-tech entrepreneur Melissa Kariuki was officially invited to join the Recording Academy’s 2025 New Member Class, becoming one of the first Africans in music technology to gain this global honour.
The Recording Academy, known for the prestigious GRAMMY Awards, extended invitations to around 3,600 music professionals worldwide, focusing on diversity and youth. Of these, 49 per cent were women, 56 per cent were people of colour, 60 per cent were under 40, and Kariuki represents all three groups.
Kariuki’s role in the GRAMMYs and global music industry
As a new Recording Academy member, Kariuki now participates directly in the GRAMMY Awards nomination and voting process, providing her a valuable platform to advocate for music creators’ rights and influence the global music scene.
Kariuki, originally a first-class honours graduate from the African Leadership University, later advanced her studies with a master’s at Tsinghua University and started her journey by hosting university open mics and art festivals.
“I never imagined it would lead me here, running a music company, and now being invited to the Recording Academy,” she reflected.
She founded Whip Music, a Nairobi-based music-tech company that leverages AI and data to promote African artists such as CKay, Ayra Starr, and The Cavemen internationally.
Whip Music has run over 200 music marketing campaigns across multiple countries, including the U.S. and South Africa, building strong partnerships with platforms like Boomplay, Africa’s largest streaming service.
African music-tech gains global recognition
Kariuki’s invitation symbolises a growing acknowledgement of Africa’s creative and technology sectors on the world stage.
Her inclusion offers African artists and founders a stronger voice within influential institutions traditionally dominated by Western perspectives.
“Kenyan entrepreneurs, creatives, and innovators belong at the top tables in music,” Kariuki said, emphasising the potential for cross-continental collaborations and fairer policies around digital music distribution and intellectual property.
This honour also highlights the increasing intersection of technology and artistry in Africa.
Kariuki’s work with Whip Music showcases how digital tools can enhance cultural exports and reshape the music business ecosystem across continents.
By joining the Recording Academy, Kariuki joins a powerful network that can accelerate the growth of African music and tech innovation on a global scale.
