VIP ACCESS

Anyiko Owoko
  • 3.9 (8)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Anyiko Owoko is one of Africa’s leading music publicists, curators and tastemakers, celebrated for her impact on music, culture and the creative industries. With 20 years experience across broadcast, digital & print media as a writer, editor, reporter & TV host, she brings deep industry insight to her work. In 2018, she founded Anyiko Public Relations, an artist agency championing African talent to global audiences. She is also the creator and host of VIP ACCESS, a culture and industry-focused podcast that has over 100 artists and professionals shaping Kenya and Africa's creative economy.

  1. The Art of Building Sustainable Influencer Entrepreneurship | S5: EP 4

    6 DAYS AGO

    The Art of Building Sustainable Influencer Entrepreneurship | S5: EP 4

    Excited to whisk you away to Uganda, Kampala this week! I met Lucy Bunyenyezi (Lucy_Smize) - Ugandan travel, food and lifestyle visual storyteller and founder of Forking Around Kampala) and Roy Ronald Tumwizere - National Advocacy Manager at Uganda Breweries Limited at AUMEX 2025, where I moderating this conversation about mastering the art of influencer entrepreneurship. Lucy Bunyenyezi (@lucy_smize) reflects on how she built a sustainable digital brand rooted in culture and her passion for travel, food and lifestyle. She shares how she positions Uganda and Africa as aspirational destinations, via storytelling, consistency and strategy.Roy Ronald Tumwizere (also the Founder of Trroy Studios), shares insights from both sides of the tableleading brand advocacy for global spirits while building a platform that nurtures dancers and creative talent in Uganda. He breaks down how creators can position themselves as credible partners for corporates and scale creative ideas into businesses.As Africa’s digital economy continues to expand, content creators are no longer just influencers; they are entrepreneurs, brand builders and cultural tastemakers. From musicians and dancers to travel storytellers and lifestyle curators, today’s creators sit at the intersection of creativity, commerce and identity. But with visibility comes pressure: to stay authentic, attract brand partnerships, monetize responsibly and build something that lasts beyond trends. On the show this week, we look at how creators design their visual identity and voice, attract partnerships, build loyal communities and navigate the tension between authenticity and monetization in a highly visible digital world. Key Takeaways from this Episode: Every creator is a brand: Visual identity, tone, values and consistency shape how audiences and brands perceive you and determine long-term opportunities. Influence must be structured: Sustainable creator careers require systems, professionalism and clear business thinking beyond likes and reach. Partnerships thrive on alignment: Brands look for creators with strong identity, engaged communities and credibility not just numbers. Authenticity is the real currency: Creators who stay true to their vision while listening to their audience build trust, loyalty and longevity. Community fuels sustainability: Belonging, engagement, and dialogue are key to growth, monetization and resilience in the creator economy. NEXT UP: Episode 5 will fly us back to Kenya for a fire eps on how your digital footprint can lead to new media and entrepreneurship. Love the sound of that! Drops next week. FOR MORE: YouTube:⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/VIPACCESSwithANYIKO⁠⁠  Instagram:⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/anyikotv/⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/industrytalks_ke/⁠⁠  TikTok:⁠ ⁠www.tiktok.com/@anyikotv⁠⁠  Share Your Feedback:⁠ https://forms.gle/CcKKRAoxzfjJmQYg7 #VIPACCESSWithAnyiko Season 5 Eps 4 If it resonates, share it with someone building their creative brand and welcome back next week for Eps 5.

    1h 1m
  2. Intellectual Property, Publishing & Legal Rules Every Artist Should Know | S5: EP 3

    27 JAN

    Intellectual Property, Publishing & Legal Rules Every Artist Should Know | S5: EP 3

    I used to think understanding Copyright and Intellectual Property is complicated but thank God I met Wandiri Karimi and June Gachui, because these women make it so easy. On this eps of VIP ACCESS, I am hosting them alongside two other industry experts working at the intersection of music, law and creative advocacy: Wandiri Karimi, intellectual property lawyer, musician and Lead IP Consultant at Kairu & McCourt Advocates, breaks down copyright law, dispute resolution, legal parameters for artists and the importance of contracts and split sheets. Paul Kaindo, Chief Legal Counsel at the Kenya Copyright Board, offers insight into copyright enforcement, infringement, and the role of institutions in protecting creators. David Katee, entertainment and IP lawyer, shares case studies from his work representing top Kenyan artists and navigating copyright disputes across local and international markets. June Gachui, performer, creative entrepreneur and founder of JGIP Consultants, breaks down what IP means while speaking on performance rights. As Africa’s digital music economy continues to grow, questions around ownership and copyright protection have never been more urgent. From rampant piracy to misunderstood contracts and unregistered works, many artists are still losing value because of lack of legal clarity. This week's podcast explores what intellectual property means and what legal steps creators can take when their rights are violated. Key Takeaways from this Episode: Ownership starts with knowledge: Understanding copyright, contracts and split sheets is essential as unregistered works and unclear agreements leave artists vulnerable to exploitation. Institutions matter, but artists must be proactive: Copyright bodies and legal frameworks exist but creators must take responsibility for registration, documentation, and enforcement of their rights. IP goes beyond recordings: Performance rights, publishing and neighbouring rights are critical income streams that artists often overlook but are central to long-term sustainability. Legal clarity protects creative freedom: Artists who understand their rights are better positioned to negotiate, resolve disputes and build careers that extend beyond hype or streaming numbers. This is a timely and essential conversation on intellectual property and the legal foundations every artist must understand to build a sustainable career in today’s music industry. If you liked it and know someone who might, please share it out! NEXT UP: Episode 4 will be on building sustainable influencer entrepreneurship. FOR MORE: YouTube:⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/VIPACCESSwithANYIKO⁠⁠⁠  Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/anyikotv/⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/industrytalks_ke/⁠⁠⁠  TikTok:⁠⁠ ⁠www.tiktok.com/@anyikotv⁠⁠⁠  Share Your Feedback:⁠⁠ https://forms.gle/CcKKRAoxzfjJmQYg7⁠ #VIPACCESSWithAnyiko Season 5 Eps 3 Leave a comment and join us next week for a new episode.

    45 min
  3. How Streaming Revenue & Music Distribution Really Work Part 2 | S5: EP 2

    20 JAN

    How Streaming Revenue & Music Distribution Really Work Part 2 | S5: EP 2

    Anyiko wraps up this essential conversation on How Streaming Revenue & Music Distribution Really Work with 3 women shaping Africa’s digital music economy: Martha Huro (ex-Boomplay EA), Agnes Opondo (A&R Executive) and Beth Achitsa (The Orchard EA). If you’ve ever asked: what does my distributor actually do? This episode is for you. In this episode, we move from theory to practice, unpacking what artists must do to earn sustainably and grow long-term careers in the digital age. Key Takeaways from this Episode: 1. Streaming alone isn’t enough: visibility, marketing and PR are critical to driving streams and income 2. Understanding royalties, split sheets and metadata is non-negotiable 3. Data and analytics are powerful tools for decision-making, not just numbers 4. Distribution is a partnership - know your distributor’s role and what they offer beyond uploads 5. Sustainable careers are built through structure, strategy and ecosystem thinking. From monetisation gaps to winning strategies and how to seize opportunities, this is an honest conversation on how to move with intention. NEXT UP: Episode 3 will be about ownership and how artists can protect their work. Stay tuned, drops next week. FOR MORE: YouTube:⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/VIPACCESSwithANYIKO⁠⁠  Instagram:⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/anyikotv/⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/industrytalks_ke/⁠⁠  TikTok:⁠ ⁠www.tiktok.com/@anyikotv⁠⁠  Share Your Feedback:⁠⁠ https://forms.gle/CcKKRAoxzfjJmQYg7⁠ #VIPACCESSWithAnyiko Season 5 Eps 2 Leave us a review and join us next week for Eps 3.

    1h 1m
  4. How Streaming Revenue & Music Distribution Really Work Part 1 | S5: EP 1

    13 JAN

    How Streaming Revenue & Music Distribution Really Work Part 1 | S5: EP 1

    On VIP ACCESS Season 5 opener episode, Anyiko hosts 3 leading women at the forefront of Africa’s digital music economy. Martha Huro, Former Managing Director for East Africa at Boomplay Music, shares insights on the importance of artists branding, structure and leveraging on your data. Agnes Opondo, A&R Music Executive, unpacks distribution and marketing strategies for growing your fanbase, building sustainable music ecosystems and fair monetisation in Africa’s music industry. Beth Achitsa, Head of East Africa at The Orchard, who discusses the role of your distributor, artist development and where African music stands when it comes to streaming revenue. Together, they explore the opportunities, challenges and future of music in the digital age.Music streaming can be a major source of income, but for many emerging artists with lower streams, it often falls short. While top-tier acts may cash in on royalties alone, most need marketing and PR to boost visibility and streams. In this episode, we break down streaming royalties, the role of split sheets and analytics, and the key steps artists need to take to earn sustainably, grow their audience and maximize revenue across digital platforms. If you’ve ever wondered how streaming royalties really work, how to grow your audience and revenue online, this episode is for you.  Our podcast this week breaks down the realities of the African music industry, sharing practical insights and strategies to help artists navigate the digital music ecosystem with confidence and purpose. NEXT UP: Part 2 of How Streaming Revenue & Music Distribution Really Work, drops next week. FOR MORE: YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/VIPACCESSwithANYIKO⁠  Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/anyikotv/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/industrytalks_ke/⁠  TikTok: ⁠www.tiktok.com/@anyikotv⁠  ⁠Share Your Feedback:⁠⁠ https://forms.gle/CcKKRAoxzfjJmQYg7⁠ #VIPACCESSWithAnyiko Season 5 Eps 1 Share this episode with someone who might benefit, leave us a review and join us next week for Part 2.

    54 min
  5. VIP ACCESS Season 5 Trailer

    SEASON 5 TRAILER

    VIP ACCESS Season 5 Trailer

    Welcome to VIP ACCESS, a culture and industry podcast taking you inside how the creative sector really works. Hosted by Anyiko Owoko, this season goes beyond the art to explore the systems, policies and people shaping today’s music and media industries. Season 5 of VIP ACCESS premieres Tuesday, 13 January 2026. New episodes drop every other Tuesday, wherever you get your podcasts: https://linktr.ee/vipaccesspodcast For the first time, VIP ACCESS takes you directly to the industry. Season 5 features unfiltered conversations with experts across music distribution, intellectual property, licensing and publishing, film scoring, podcasting, festival curation, event production, new media entrepreneurship + more! VIP ACCESS SEASON 5 CREDITS: Creator, Host & Producer: Anyiko Owoko Executive Producers: Anyiko Public Relations & Goethe-Institut Nairobi  Original VIP ACCESS theme song by Provoke  Sound Design: Musyoka at Decimal Records & Ronin Productions Post Production Editors: Fidel Maithya & Anyiko Owoko VO Production: SemaBOX Africa Videography & editing: Geoffrey Muthui & Unc.siwaka BTS Photography: Humphrey Gateri & Jamie Intwari Cover Art Photography: Lyra Aoko Graphic Design: Oscar Wanjie & Jesse Itemere Special Thanks to Goethe-Institut Nairobi and AUMEX Uganda – Amplifying Uganda’s Music Industry for supporting season 5. #VIPACCESSWithAnyiko Season 5

    1 min
  6. S4: EP 21 | Evajay - "There's No Timeline To Creativity"

    26/06/2024

    S4: EP 21 | Evajay - "There's No Timeline To Creativity"

    Evajay is a dynamic and multi-talented Nigerian music artist from Port Harcourt. His skills range from singing, songwriting, music production and performance. From soulful ballads to upbeat dance tracks, his music is an eclectic blend of styles. His passion for music began at an early age, as he honed his craft as a bass player in his local church band. In this interview he takes me through the push and pull of dabbling in engineering and music. Following his graduation from the university, Evajay pursued a career as a petroleum engineer, but his love for music never faded. Drawing on his years of experience and self-taught skills, in 2023 Evajay decided to follow his heart and pursue music full-time. As he evolves, Evajay’s unique style and approach to music continues to gain him a loyal following. Check out his single & video “Kununu” via https://ingrv.es/kununu-nov-9 #VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #Evajay #Nigeria Season 4 Eps 21 Subscribe to VIP ACCESS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VIPACCESSwithANYIKO Anyiko TV on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anyikotv/ Anyiko TV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/anyikotv Anyiko TV on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@anyikotv

    33 min
  7. S4: EP 20 | Jess White - What Booking Agents Are Looking For

    19/06/2024

    S4: EP 20 | Jess White - What Booking Agents Are Looking For

    Jess White is the director and founder of Akum Agency and also a very good friend of mine. He works as an Artist Manager, Booking Agent, Music Consultant and Creative Producer. Jess White is a creative and dynamic artist manager, booking agent, music consultant and event producer, providing a platform to music, the arts and creative expression in South Africa, the region and beyond. In 2014, he founded Akum Agency, an independent artist management, booking agency, music consultancy, event promotion and creative production company. Akum Agency represents a diverse roster of artists from South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya, Sudan, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Cameroon/New Zealand, nurturing their respective talents and building their profile to national and international audiences. As an arts and music consultant White has vast experience in event and festival management, music export, event and festival programming, financial management, music video production, marketing, logistics, workshop facilitation, reporting writing to and music journalism. Past clients have included: Australasian Worldwide Music Expo, Apple Music, Azgo Festival, Beneath the Baobabs Festival, Blankets & Wine Festival, The British Council, Bushfire Festival, Concerts SA, First Floor Gallery, Igoda, IOMMa, JazzFest Berlin, Joburg Art Fair, Littlegig, Luju Festival, Music In Africa, Modzi Arts Gallery, Ongala Festival, OSISA, Platoon, Pro Helvetia, Nafasi Art Space, Sakifo Festival, Sauti za Busara Festival, Visa For Music, Zakifo Festival and more. #VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #JessWhite #Australia #SouthAfrica Season 4 Eps 20 Subscribe to VIP ACCESS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VIPACCESSwithANYIKO Anyiko TV on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anyikotv/ Anyiko TV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/anyikotv Anyiko TV on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@anyikotv

    27 min
  8. S4: EP 19 | Do2dtun - "Hype And Radio Is Life"

    11/06/2024

    S4: EP 19 | Do2dtun - "Hype And Radio Is Life"

    Do2dtun aka Energy gAD is Nigeria’s biggest hype master with energy like no other. In fact, in this interview he expounds on how he managed to commercialize hype and energy throughout his notable career in the entertainment industry. He is also one of Nigeria's most respected media personalities and industry movers and shakers. He is an on-air media personality, an actor, a TV Host and media entrepreneur. He gained widespread recognition as a TV and Radio personality, hosting shows and concerts, after founding a dance group called Xtreme Dancers and appearing in popular music videos for songs. Do2dtun is well-versed with the African entertainment and music scene, having toured and traveled extensively, even sharing a stage with major stars like Ice Prince and Olamide. This, alongside his other passion of bringing out the hype in anything or at any event, has made him one of Africa's leading cultural influencers and one of Nigeria's most bankable event MCs. He has inspired a young generation of entertainers and creatives with his positive attitude, wonderful voice, proper words and charm. He is now entering an era of using his power and networks to connect creatives across Africa to share skills and knowledge so as to move Africa's entertainment industry forward. #VIPACCESSWithAnyiko #Do2dtun #Nigeria Season 4 Eps 19 Subscribe to VIP ACCESS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VIPACCESSwithANYIKO Anyiko TV on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anyikotv/ Anyiko TV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/anyikotv Anyiko TV on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@anyikotv

    38 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

3.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Anyiko Owoko is one of Africa’s leading music publicists, curators and tastemakers, celebrated for her impact on music, culture and the creative industries. With 20 years experience across broadcast, digital & print media as a writer, editor, reporter & TV host, she brings deep industry insight to her work. In 2018, she founded Anyiko Public Relations, an artist agency championing African talent to global audiences. She is also the creator and host of VIP ACCESS, a culture and industry-focused podcast that has over 100 artists and professionals shaping Kenya and Africa's creative economy.

Information

  • Creator
    Anyiko Owoko
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Anyiko Owoko
  • Show Website
    VIP ACCESS