Warner Music has signed a new licensing deal with music streaming platform Audiomack for key African territories including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania.
Canada and Jamaica are also among new territories covered by the companies’ licensing deal.
WMG first entered into a partnership with Audiomack in August 2019, marking the platform’s first licensing deal with a major label.
Audiomack, which claims to have more than 16 million monthly active users, will also provide support for Warner Music’s A&R research activities across these territories.
Launched in 2012 by Dave Macli and David Ponte, Audiomack is completely free to independent artists and includes the ability to upload an unlimited amount of music.
Audiomack opened its first international office in Lagos, Nigeria earlier this year.
Warner Music has also made various strategic deals and investments in the wider African market.
In 2018, it launched Warner Music Middle East, which covers Arabic North African countries and is led by Managing Director Moe Hamzeh.
In 2019, WMG announced a pioneering partnership with Chocolate City, the most influential independent record label in Nigeria.
And earlier this year, Warner Music announced its investment in Africori, Africa’s leading digital music distribution, music rights management, and artist development company.
At the beginning of last year, Warner Music became the second major music company to sign a direct licensing deal with Africa’s biggest music streaming service, Boomplay.
“This deal is another important step in growing Warner Music’s presence in Africa.”
Alfonso Perez Soto, Warner Music
Alfonso Perez Soto, EVP, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Warner Music, said: “This deal is another important step in growing Warner Music’s presence in Africa.
“Under the new deal, not only will our teams benefit from a range of key A&R, marketing, and data commitments in Africa, but Audiomack will also help support our African artists’ international expansion into the US and western markets.
“Audiomack is incredibly popular and influential in global youth culture and in the process of breaking new artists worldwide, so I’m excited to see our African artists become part of the platform.”
“We look forward to extending the benefits of this partnership to our many artists across these key regions.”
Allan Coye, Warner Music
Allan Coye, Senior Vice President, Digital Strategy & Business Development, Warner Music, added: “We launched our first partnership with Audiomack in the US a little over a year ago.
“In that time, we’ve collaborated to create a lot of value for Warner artists and for Audiomack. We look forward to extending the benefits of this partnership to our many artists across these key regions.”
“The expansion of our partnership with Warner represents the next phase of Audiomack’s consistent investment in the African market.”
Vanessa Wilkins, Audiomack
Vanessa Wilkins, Director of Music & Data Partnerships at Audiomack, said: “The expansion of our partnership with Warner represents the next phase of Audiomack’s consistent investment in the African market.
“Leveraging our robust presence in the region, Audiomack will arm Warner’s A&R teams with the data-based insights they need to identify rising stars and bring new opportunities for growth to the thousands of creators that Audiomack serves.”
“As a result of this deal, African artists on Audiomack who decide to partner with Warner will remain on Audiomack and connected to their earliest supporters.”
Dave Macli, Audiomack
Dave Macli, CEO of Audiomack, said: “We’re delighted to bring the Warner Music catalog to Audiomack’s millions of listeners across Africa. Audiomack’s goal has always been to provide every artist worldwide with a no-cost platform to launch their careers and connect with new fans.
“As a result of this deal, African artists on Audiomack who decide to partner with Warner will remain on Audiomack and connected to their earliest supporters.”Music Business Worldwide
