The Diamond Standard

31/12/2025

My favourite artist in the world just became a billionaire… and I don’t know how to act. But let’s be clear - Beyoncé didn’t become a billionaire because she’s famous. She became a billionaire because she owns what she creates - intellectual property is a real thing!

What exactly turned Queen B into a billionaire?

We’ll never know the full details - but we can study the strategic patterns. And one thing is undeniable: intellectual property is the real unlock to insane wealth.

Beyoncé’s Billionaire Blueprint:
Ownership Over Everything. There’s something distinct about how Beyoncé carries her artistry - but even more powerful is how she protects and controls it. She doesn’t just make music. We can attest that she builds assets.

Look.
Music, tours, visuals, documentaries, merch, fashion, film, beauty, spirits - each one of these is structured so that someone has to pay when her creativity is used. And most times, that someone is paying her.

That’s the key right there.

Ownership matters as a creative. You don’t have to own 100% - but you must own something. Because intellectual property doesn’t just pay once. Depending on the deal, it can pay you forever.

Strategic Moves That Built the Billion
1. Control of Cultural Moments
“Beychella” (I mean… Coachella) became the most watched Coachella performance ever. But Beyoncé didn’t let that moment disappear into the internet ether. She turned it into Homecoming - a Netflix documentary that she owns through her production company, Parkwood Entertainment.
Performance → film → licensing → long-term IP value. That’s mastery.

2. Genre Pivot as a Business Play
Her recent pivot into country music didn’t just make noise - it disrupted an entire industry conversation. Whether people loved it or hated it, they paid attention.
Beyoncé doesn’t chase trends.
She creates cultural and iconic moments and experiences for her fans and audience, then monetizes the ownership of them.

3. World Tours as IP Machines
All artists tour BUT her tours aren’t just concerts - they are ecosystems: visuals, costumes, choreography, live recordings, merchandise, film rights, and brand partnerships.
See how every element is intentional and protected.

4. Expansion Beyond Music (With Ownership)
My big bro has always coached me to think of myself beyond just being an artist - to think myself capable of many, great things and that advice has been instrumental to how I see creative skills and talent.
Beyonce doesn’t just see herself as an artist either, she sees herself as the commander of her ship, master of her destiny and well, she’s willing to try new business and creative ways.
• Cécred, her haircare line, is already performing strongly in both sales and results
• SirDavis whiskey, placing her in a niche luxury market rarely occupied by Black female artists
• Ongoing trademark and patent registrations across her business interests
This isn’t random diversification - this is Intellectual Property stacking.

The Real Lesson Creatives Shouldn’t Miss
To me, Beyoncé’s exceptional artistry is the foundation - but ownership is the multiplier.
She has a team that intricately grows the business while she focuses on creating world-class art and visuals. That’s not luck - that’s proper structure.

She is not moving in accordance with entertainment industry trends. She’s solidifying her legacy and increasing her net worth through strategic control and ownership of her intellectual property.

3 Major Takeaways for my fellow Creatives
1. Your creativity is an asset - treat it like one
Music, books, tours, merch, visuals - if it came from you, it has value beyond today.
2. Ownership beats fame every time
Exposure without equity is a bad deal. Always ask: what do I own? How much can I own?
3. Register, protect, and structure before the money comes
Before fame and fortune, think trademarks, copyrights, patents, and deal terms.

This is your sign.
Take your intellectual property seriously.
Because creativity + intellectual property ownership is how legacies - and billionaires - are built.

31/12/2025

It takes a village to crown a Queen…we did that! Miss Malawi

I wrapped up the year at the Miss Malawi 2025 Grand Finale, and what a journey it has been. Being part of the team that brought this year’s vision to life - “Beauty with Purpose” - was nothing short of transformative.

Serving as Creative Director/strategist for this comeback season felt like being a child in a candy store of creativity: a bold vision, space to imagine, and a team deeply committed to doing the work.

I said yes because I knew my capabilities needed stretching - applied to real, high-pressure, real-life scenarios.

I drew from my box of creative arsenal: strategic concept development, brand architecture, creative direction, storytelling, scripting and copywriting, voice-overs, visual curation, content strategy, social media management, talent acquisition and coordination (including unreleased theme songs), live event production support, marketing strategy, quality control, problem-solving under pressure, and team alignment.

Wheeeww! This went far beyond traditional creative direction. The pressure was real - and I took it on!

Imagine carrying the responsibility of helping shift the narrative of a national pageant - one that has accumulated complex perceptions about what pageantry and participation in Miss Malawi means to young Malawian women and girls.

That was our task as the Miss Malawi 2025 team.

Our goal was clear: to position Miss Malawi as a platform for leadership, advocacy, and community building, not just another pageant. Our 2025 finalists are forces to be reckoned with - they are already engaged in transforming their communities in one way or the other.

The work was demanding. Many moving parts. Limited resources. High expectations. Constant adaptation. Real sacrifices.

But above all, we were committed to delivering quality from start to finish.

From auditions held in July to the Grand Finale in December, I witnessed a shift - from public skepticism to growing, genuine interest.

There was praise and criticism along the way, but one thing remains true: public opinion matters far less than the work required to move Malawi’s culture and creative industry forward.

Most people talk. Fewer people do.

We have many opportunities to choose to be among the doers - the change-makers, not the commentators/spectators.

I’m deeply proud of myself for seeing this journey through, from beginning to end.

And as 2026 approaches, I’m excited to apply the lessons I’ve learnt from Miss Malawi 2025 to the brands, ideas, and creative expressions I’ll work with.

hashtag hashtag

29/12/2025

We’re proud to announce the launch of...

"Girls Beat Club"

📅 Saturday 17 January 2026

Girls Beat Club is a twice-monthly creative community designed to empower our female artists and producers with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to thrive independently in the local & global music industry.

Through hands-on learning in:
• Music production
• Independent artist development
• Music business & strategy

We’re working toward one clear goal:
more proactive female creatives and a shift in the local sound through female-led music and performances.

Create. Learn. Perform.

29/12/2025

09/12/2025

09/12/2025

Miss Malawi 2025: A Tale of Beauty with Purpose

Imagine being a national pageant that returns after a 2 year hiatus and coming back to society where nobody believes in your relevance or impact - at least not yet.

The Miss Malawi 2025 journey has been nothing short of exhilarating and a rollercoaster to watch as a young team took on the responsibility of changing the narrative of what it means to be a beauty queen in Malawi and in this day and age.

So much has changed since Covid happened in 2020 - suddenly the world is more to Malawians or is it the other way round?

Malawians are being more exposed to the life and culture beyond its conservative borders and seeing the power of beauty and pageantry in driving country economies in the areas of tourism especially.

The Beauty with Purpose theme of the year is intentional in changing the way the public and private sectors view Miss Malawi and pageantry. For many Malawian women, Miss Malawi is a reflection of who they are - under estimated yet so full of unbridled potential; negatively perceived yet so full of positive impact and direction.

The Miss Malawi story is about encouraging young Malawian girls and women to dream big and beyond their circumstances.

To embrace the power of our voices in standing up for balance and equality in our communities and speaking up on behalf of the marginalized and communities.

Now the night to remember approaches - the long awaited Grand Finale. Promising to be one of the most beautiful and fashionable nights of the year in town; it will start off with a Red carpet affair and commentary.

The journey for Miss Malawi 2025 concludes on the 13th December, 2025 at The Pearl Convention for The Miss Malawi Grand Finale. The grand finale marks the choosing of a new national beauty ambassador.

The new face of Malawian Beauty and Brains will have an office to run once crowned - the Miss Malawi Foundation; which means she will be busy throughout the year 2026 before the next Miss Malawi 2026.

Guests and attendees are invited to dress up and show up in full glitz and glam for both men and women.

The beautiful and brilliant Nicole Kamwendo and Priscilla Kayira will be hosting the event with Cynthia Zonde and Chimwemwe Ngugi on the red carpet.

Miss Malawi 2017, Cecilia Khofi returns as one of the judges joined by Luis Munana of Netflix, Young African and Famous and Lalela Mswane on the judging panel. Their combined diverse expertise in film, TV, health, fashion and music is going to make the Grand Finale night an unforgettable night.

Now, the sponsors who have believed and pushed the vision of Miss Malawi have to be acknowledged - Premier Bet and Goshen City.

They really footed the bill in most of the activities, bringing in international experts in knowledge exchange and ensuring Miss Malawi’s top finalists are mentored by some of the best in the pageant game.

Without a doubt, Miss Malawi 2025 has shifted the narrative around what it means to hold the crown, to introduce a team and board members to provide guidance and assistance in the ex*****on of the vision.

It has also paved the way for a new approach to executing national and local pageants in Malawi.

Make sure you don’t miss this experience - get your tickets on
https://www.ulinzinga.com/ev-J3a40gUi

Benito Mitochi.

29/11/2025

The fees breakdown for individual courses are as follows:

29/11/2025

We are pleased to announce that the Creative Business Academy for Africa (CBA) has officially released it's 2026 programme fees across all participating countries.

Commencing on 7th February, 2026 any aspiring creatives in Malawi are encouraged to apply or reach out to us for more information.

The CBA 2026 Full Course covers: Music Business, Film for Music, Fashion in Music and Talent Development.

Join a continent-wide creative business network committed to building sustainable and world-class African creative industries.

03/11/2025

You participated in the voting process, and your vote had a significant impact.

We are delighted to announce that the three contestants who garnered the most votes on our website have been reinstated. !!!