Nigerian streaming platform, MePlaylist, has appointed Mathew Knowles and Michael Kay Kiladejo to global executive roles.
Following the announcement earlier this year of their investments in the startup, Knowles and Kiladejo will now play key exec roles in the Africa-based DSP.
In a press release announcing the news, MePlaylist states that it has inked deals “in the past few months with several music rights owning entities around the world to boost its catalog by millions of tracks” and is currently in talks to “add millions more by the end of the year”.
Mathew Knowles becomes President, Global Marketing and Communications, leading and delivering all global marketing and communication initiatives. He will remain based in the US.
Having worked with artists from his daughters Beyoncé and Solange to Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire and Destiny’s Child, Knowles has achieved record sales exceeding 450 million records worldwide.
He has garnered countless awards for his business achievements in the music industry, and in community partnerships. Knowles is CEO and Founder, Music World Entertainment.
Based in London, Track Records Entertainment CEO Michael Kay Kiladejo assumes the role of President, Global Licensing and Content Acquisition.
Kiladejo will generate leads, engaging global content delivery partners and rights holders to make trending and multiple genres available to MePlaylist users.
Kiladejo began his career in music as a teenage songwriter signed to Sony in the ‘90s.
Releases from his TRE record label have recently included Afrobeats tracks with Demola and Davido, and has a catalog of recordings and releases by rappers Jim Jones, Tech 9, and Kismet Brown.
He also played a major part in the writing, production and development of the girl group Choice, whose lead singer is now better known to the world as Pink.
The group signed to Laface records and Pink’s debut album, Can’t Take Me Home, went multi-platinum. He also consulted on the early development of Amy Winehouse, and has worked with artists, including Jermaine Stewart, Narada Michael Walden, and Kool & the Gang. He is Managing Partner, Music World International.
“l look forward to my new role with MePlaylist. It gives me a deep sense of pride to partner with two incredible African men in a music streaming space that is dominated by those that don’t look like us.”
Mathew Knowles
Mathew Knowles said: “l look forward to my new role with MePlaylist. It gives me a deep sense of pride to partner with two incredible African men in a music streaming space that is dominated by those that don’t look like us.
“The Black Lives Matter movement has to be entrepreneurial as well as social; with domestic and international reach. Our goal at MePlaylist is to bring awareness to the many incredible artists and plethora of African music genres.
“We want to take African music out of the generalized “World Music” category and give it the many powerful voices it deserves.
“We aim to make MePlaylist a worldwide platform where all genres of music will be represented and celebrated.”
“It’s immensely gratifying to be embarking on this venture, at a time when Africa holds so much untapped potential to yield the next generation of global superstars.”
Michael Kay Kiladejo
Michael added: “My career and passion have often led me along the path to the discovery of exciting new artists, in the earliest stages of their careers, that have gone on to become both globally significant and transformative in their impact on popular culture.
“So it’s immensely gratifying to be embarking on this venture, at a time when Africa holds so much untapped potential to yield the next generation of global superstars.
“In this moment of great change and growth, it is a huge privilege for me to be working with my esteemed colleagues, to present MePlaylist, a streaming platform whose mission statement is to diversify the menu and enrich the global music palette.”
“Our global footprint now matches our business outlook.”
Olakunle Oladehin
Speaking on behalf of the MePlaylist Board, Founder and Global Lead, Business Development, Olakunle Oladehin, said: “Our global footprint now matches our business outlook.
“Very much in line with our company values, this demonstration of inclusion and diversity sets a great tone for what the future will look like.”Music Business Worldwide