The A&R Foundation has announced plans to introduce a pan-African training programme in 2027 to equip aspiring music industry professionals with skills in talent discovery, artist development and Artists and Repertoire (A&R) management.

The initiative, known as THE A&R FOUNDRY 2027, is expected to cover Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa, with the organisers seeking to create a more structured pathway into an area of the music business where professional development has often depended on informal experience and industry connections.

According to the foundation, the programme will combine practical A&R training with technology-supported approaches to identifying and developing musical talent.

The project is being developed by Nigerian A&R strategist and music entrepreneur Babatunde Makinde, whose company, A&R Duty, operates an artificial intelligence-powered platform focused on talent discovery and A&R workflows.

Makinde, whose career spans over a decade across A&R, talent management, artist development and music marketing, said building professional capacity is essential to strengthening Africa’s music ecosystem.

While his company, A&R Duty, focuses on technology-supported talent discovery, the Foundation is focused on education and empowerment.

“We talk frequently about the artists who will shape the future of African music. We also need to develop the professionals who can recognise their potential, guide their growth and connect them to the right opportunities,” Makinde said. “THE A&R FOUNDRY is being built to help create that pathway.”

The organisers said the initiative will blend contemporary A&R tools and workflows with human judgement, cultural understanding and industry relationships.

Further details on curriculum, eligibility, selection process and application timeline are expected to be announced via the Foundation’s official channels.

The programme is also opening up collaboration with educational institutions, record labels, music companies, industry organisations and sponsors interested in supporting learning, mentorship and professional opportunities for emerging A&R talent.

According to the Foundation, THE A&R FOUNDRY 2027 forms part of a broader ambition to build a stronger and more connected African music industry by investing in the people and systems behind talent discovery and artist development.

Babatunde Makinde is a Nigerian A&R strategist and founder of A&R Duty, an AI-powered platform for talent discovery and A&R workflows. He holds an MBA in Marketing and has spent over a decade in music industry operations.