 | |
| Universal Music (Pty) Ltd. | |
| Company type | Public |
| Industry | Music publishing |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | 26 Cradock Avenue, , South Africa |
| Services | Music publishing |
| Parent | Universal Music Group |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | umgsa |
Universal Music South Africa (aka Universal Music (Pty) Ltd. and often abbreviated UMGSA) is the South African division of the record label Universal Music Group, founded in 1997. [1]
Universal Music South Africa, was founded in 1997, as the second-largest African division of Universal Music Group. On 31 May 2012, P-Square signed a distribution deal with Universal Music SA. [2] On 7 March 2016, Sipho Dlamini, was appointed the managing director of Universal Music South Africa. [3] On 4 November 2016, Dominic Neill signed a record deal with Universal Music SA. [4] On 21 February 21, 2018, Pino Di Benedetto, was added to the director board of Universal Music South Africa. [5] On 18 May 2018, Tellaman signed a record deal with Universal Music South Africa. [6] On 16 April 2019, 25K joined Universal Music South Africa artist roaster. [7]
In 2020, Jeremy Loops signed a licensing deal with Universal Music South Africa, in partnership with Decca Records. On 22 May 2020, Jeremy Loops release his first single under UMG South Africa titled "Mortal Man" [8] through Universal Music Group, Decca Records and Polydor Records. On 4 January 2021, Sipho Dlamini was promoted to the Chief executive office, of South Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. [9] On 10 September 2021, Universal Music South Africa co-signed Lloyiso, in conjunction with Republic Records. [10]
In the early 2010s, EMI became part of Universal Music South Africa, [1] and began operating in South Africa, as EMI Music South Africa. On 16 November 2010, EMI appoints Pino Di Benedetto, as managing director of EMI South Africa [11] and head of EMI Music South Africa till 2012, after the parent company became inactive.
In 2017, Universal Music Africa launched UMG Live Africa, for talent and booking management, and the flagship of UMG Live, owned by Universal Music Group. On 21 February 2018, Universal Music South Africa, acquires the artist management company G Management, [5] [12] and appoints the director of G Management, Morgan Ross, to head UMG Live Africa. [12]
On 10 November 2020, National School of the Arts, signed a partnership deal with Universal Music South Africa. According to Universal Music Group’s Task Force for Meaningful Change (TFMC), said "The landmark partnership will include the newly renamed “Universal Music Department,” which caters for 165 learners from Uganda, Zimbabwe, DRC and South Africa, as well as hands-on support from the global music company in the form of resources, classes, industry participation, and internships". [13]
African artists signed to Universal Music South Africa, and EMI Music South Africa:
| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Details | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | O Mang? | Hip Hop Pantsula | 1 September 2003 | |
| 2004 | O Mang Reloaded | Hip Hop Pantsula | ||
| 2005 | YBA 2 NW | Hip Hop Pantsula | 17 October 2005 | |
| 2007 | Acceptance Speech | Hip Hop Pantsula | November 2007 | |
| 2009 | Dumela | Hip Hop Pantsula | November 2009 | |
| 2011 | Motswako High School | Hip Hop Pantsula | 31 December 2011 | |
| Hungry | ChianoSky | 2011 | ||
| Motswafrika | Hip Hop Pantsula, JR | 2011 | ||
| 2012 | I Am An African | Lungelo, Riot Zungu, Zahara | 2012 | |
| The Homecoming | AB Crazy | 2012 | ||
| 2017 | Blue Skies | AB Crazy | 3 November 2017 | |
| Highly Flavoured | Busiswa | 8 December 2017 | ||
| Ikhambi | Nduduzo Makhathini | 29 September 2017 | ||
| 2018 | Strings and Bling | Nasty C | 6 July 2018 |
|
| 2020 | Zulu Man with Some Power | Nasty C | 28 August 2020 | |
| 2021 | Red | Lady Zamar | 11 June 2021 | |
| 2022 | Ivyson Army Tour Mixtape | Nasty C | 16 September 2022 | |
| 2023 | I Love It Here | Nasty C | 16 September 2023 |
Parlophone Records Limited is a record label founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch of the label was founded on 8 August 1923 as the Parlophone Company Limited, which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a jazz record label. On 5 October 1926, the Columbia Graphophone Company acquired Parlophone's business, name, logo, and release library, and merged with the Gramophone Company on 31 March 1931 to become Electric & Musical Industries Limited (EMI). George Martin joined Parlophone in 1950 as assistant to Oscar Preuss, the label manager, taking over as manager in 1955. Martin produced and released a mix of recordings, including by comedian Peter Sellers, pianist Mrs Mills, and teen idol Adam Faith.
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EMI Group Limited was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its acquisition by Universal Music in 2012, it was the fourth largest business group and record label conglomerate in the music industry, and was one of the "Big Four" record companies. Its labels included EMI Records, Parlophone, Virgin Records, and Capitol Records, which are now referenced under Universal Music due to their acquisition with the exception of Parlophone, as it is now owned by Warner Music.
Universal Music Group N.V. is a Dutch–American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its operational headquarters are located in Santa Monica, California. The biggest music company in the world, it is one of the "Big Three" record labels, along with Sony Music Group and Warner Music Group. Tencent acquired ten percent of Universal Music Group in March 2020 for €3 billion and acquired an additional ten percent stake in January 2021. Pershing Square Holdings later acquired ten percent of UMG prior to its IPO on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange. The French Bolloré family still owns 28 percent of UMG. The company went public on September 21, 2021, at a valuation of €46 billion.
EMI Records is a British multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company EMI in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia and Parlophone record labels. The label was later launched worldwide. It has a branch in India called EMI Records India, run by director Mohit Suri. In 2014, Universal Music Japan revived the label in Japan as the successor to EMI Records Japan. In June 2020, Universal revived the label as the successor to Virgin EMI, with Virgin Records now operating as an imprint of EMI Records. In February 2024, UMG Philippines relaunched EMI as a successor to the former EMI Philippines label after 22 years.
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group. The label has been dormant since 2006, due to Universal Motown and Universal Republic Records being formed and taking all of the artists from it. Those labels were eventually combined to form the latest iteration of Republic Records.
Universal Music Group Nashville is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. It was officially opened on New Year's Day 1945 as MCA Nashville and Mercury Nashville which on New Year's Day 1950 as Capitol Nashville. Some of the labels in this group include MCA Nashville Records, Mercury Nashville Records, Lost Highway Records, Capitol Records Nashville and EMI Records Nashville. UMG Nashville not only handles these imprints, but also manages the country music catalogues of record labels Universal Music and predecessor companies acquired over the years including ABC Records, Decca Records, Dot Records, DreamWorks Records, Kapp Records, MGM Records and Polydor Records.
Capitol Music Group is an American front-line umbrella label operating as a unit of Interscope Capitol Labels Group, itself a division of Universal Music Group. Inherited from UMG's acquisition of EMI's catalog in 2013, it oversees the handling of record labels assigned to UMG's Capitol Records division. The current chair and CEO is Tom March.
Sir Lucian Charles Grainge is a British record executive who has served as chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Universal Music Group since 2010. Beginning as an A&R staffer in the late 1970s, Grainge has worked in the music industry his entire career. Billboard magazine named him the most powerful person in the music business on four occasions in the 2010s, and was named the inaugural Executive of the Decade in 2020.
Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, known professionally as Nasty C, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
UMG Philippines Inc. is a record label based in the Philippines and served as its regional branch of the multinational music corporation, Universal Music Group. Formerly known as MCA Music, the record label previously retained the now-discontinued MCA name on legal purposes because of a trademark dispute with an unrelated label known as Universal Records, which preempted the rights to the word "Universal" for recorded music in the Philippines. However, the company adopted the moniker "MCA/Universal", much like Universal Pictures' home video unit from 1990 to 1997, to simplify identification, even though no formal "Universal" branding is exercised. Despite the naming, the label is known outside the Philippines as Universal Music Philippines.
Thelumusa Samuel Owen, better known by his stage name Tellaman is a South African singer, songwriter and record producer. Growing up in a musical background, he is most known for a number one charting single by DJ Speedsta titled "Mayo" which features himself, Yung Swiss, Frank Casino & Shane Eagle.
CCP Records is a South African music entertainment company founded by Clive Calder and Ralph Simon. It is a production company. They envisioned the company while working for EMI South Africa in 1972. CCP Records was distributed by EMI Records South Africa. EMI purchased the company in that same year.
Universal Music West Africa is the West African division of the global record label Universal Music Group. Founded in 2017, it has its corporate headquarters located in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The label has signed at least seventeen artists from various African countries. UMGNG is engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content.
Zulu Man with Some Power is the third studio album by South African rapper Nasty C. It was released by Def Jam Recordings and Universal Music Group on August 28, 2020. The album features several American artists, Ari Lennox, T.I., Lil Keed and Lil Gotit.
Rhythms of Zamunda, released as Rhythms of Zamunda , is a soundtrack album curated by Sipho Dlamini for the film Coming 2 America. It was released on March 5, 2021, by Def Jam Recordings and Def Jam Africa for Paramount Pictures. The album features Pan-African artists such as Nasty C, Larry Gaaga, Umu Obiligbo, Locko, Tekno, Tellaman, Sha Sha, Oxlade, Alpha P, TMXO, DJ Arafat, Prince Kaybee, Msaki, Tiwa Savage, Th&o., Diamond Platnumz, Morgan Heritage, Toofan, Fally Ipupa, BONJ, Gemini Major, Anatii, De Mthuda, Njelic, and Ricky Tyler, as well as appearances from Ari Lennox.
Def Jam Recordings Africa, is the African division of the international record label Def Jam Recordings. The label is owned by Universal Music Africa, a flagship of Universal Music Group. Founded in 2020, and operating in South Africa, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Cameroon. It specializes mainly in African hip-hop, Afrobeats, and trap music.
Universal Music Africa (UMA) is a multilingual music corporation of the global record label Universal Music Group, covering 25 French, Spanish, and Portuguese-speaking countries, in Africa, with its corporate headquarters located in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Universal Music Africa is known for housing Motown Gospel Africa, Blue Note Records Africa, and Def Jam Recordings Africa.
I Love It Here is the fourth studio album by South African recording artist and record producer Nasty C, it was released on 15 September 2023 through Def Jam and Universal Music South Africa. It features guest appearances from Tellaman, Maglera Doe Boy, 25K, Anica, Manana, and American rapper Benny the Butcher.