Industry |
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Predecessors |
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Founded | 5 December 2013 |
Headquarters | 1 Saxon Rd, Hyde Park, Sandton, 2196, , South Africa |
Area served | Africa |
Key people | Temi Adeniji (MD.) |
Services | Music publishing, Music distribution, Music recording, Brand strategy |
Parent | Warner Music Group |
Website | warnermusic |
Warner Music Africa (formerly Warner Music South Africa) is a music corporation of the global record label Warner Music Group, founded on 5 December 2013. [1] with its South Africa arm managing artist development, marketing, and distribution for Warner Music artists in Africa, with its corporate headquarters located in 1 Saxon Rd, Hyde Park, Sandton, 2196, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Warner Music South Africa was founded on 5 December 2013, following the buyout of Gallo Records share of the joint venture Warner Music Gallo Africa as a division of Warner Music Group. Following the launching of the imprint, WMG appoints the former Warner Music Gallo Africa general manager Tracy Fraser, [1] as the managing director of Warner Music South Africa. Tracy participated in the signing of Josh Kempen, [2] Locnville, Mango Groove, Janie Bay, [3] Dr Bone, Zahara, [4] Julanie J, [5] Masandi, [6] Faith K, CKay, [7] and Diamond Platnumz, with a 360 partnership deal between WMG, and WCB Wasafi. [8] Tracy stepped down from her position in 2021.
On 22 March 2021, Temi Adeniji was appointed by WMG with the combined role of managing director of Warner Music South Africa and SVP, Strategy, of Sub-Saharan Africa. [9] Temi participated in the signing of Kiddo CSA, [10] Sizwe Alakine, [11] and Rouge. [12] On 16 September 2021, Temi participated in the buying of Coleske, one of South Africa largest independent label. [13] According to Unorthodox Reviews, prior to May 2022, Warner Music South Africa began operating as Warner Music Africa. [14] The news was broken by Temi Adeniji, at an exclusive launch held on 11 May 2022 at Warner Music offices in Hyde Park. On 23 June 2022, Warner Music Africa launched a brand strategy division. [15]
The brand strategy division of Warner Music Africa was led by the entertainment lawyer Thembi Mpungose-Niklas, [15] who was appointed. Thembi is to report directly to WMA managing director and senior vice-president of special projects in sub-Saharan Africa Temi Adeniji. [15] On 5 July 2022, Warner Music Group, Blavatnik Family Foundation, and Social Justice Fund announce the launch of the SJF Repertoire Fund, an eight-year $10M initiative that allows WMG employees in participating regions to get involved, making Warner Music Africa, one of its team to receive $1M to be disbursed in Sub-Saharan Africa, by nominating local organizations for grants from $5,000-$15,000 USD. [16]
In the inaugural cycle of SJF Repertoire Fund in Sub-Saharan Africa, we were very deliberate in finding organizations not only reflective of the focus pillars but also across various countries to reflect the diversity of the continent.
- Temi Adeniji [16]
Warner Music Africa announced its first set of SJF Repertoire Fund grantee partners for Sub-Saharan Africa, would include organizations across Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. [16] On the same day, Warner Music Africa approved grants to the following African organizations, including African Leadership Academy (South Africa), African Digital Media Institute (Kenya), AgroEknor Farmers Education & Empowerment Program (Nigeria), ArtNg (Nigeria), Edugrant (Nigeria), Fair Justice Initiative (Ghana), Kids Haven (South Africa), Rele Arts Foundation (Nigeria), The Sarz Academy Academy Foundation (Nigeria), The Tag Foundation (South Africa), The Tomorrow Trust (South Africa), Zoma Museum (Ethiopia), and WeThinkCode_ (South Africa). [16]
In 2006, Johnnic Communications (Gallo's parent company, which changed its name to Avusa in November 2007) entered a joint venture with the South African division of Warner Music Group and established Warner Music Gallo Africa. The Gallo Record Company's entire music archive digitally available for the first time. These include rare pressings as well as classic hits by artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu, Spokes Mashiyane, Lucky Dube, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and others. The joint venture ended in December 2013. [17]
On 22 August 2019, WM South Africa announce a partnership deal with Flume, a digital marketing agency. [18]
On 18 May 2022, Warner Music Group announced a new 360 partnership deal with Diamond Platnumz and his leading independent record label WCB Wasafi. [8] The new deal will see WCB Wasafi incorporated into Warner Music South Africa and Ziiki Media. [19]
On 15 July 2023, Warner Music Africa announces a partnership with Lacuna Creative Studios, to oversee the post-production of Inkabi Zezwe six-part documentary series of the making of Sjava and Big Zulu’s Ukhamba studio album. [20]
Singles, Albums and Eps, released through Warner Music Africa:
Artist | Title | Year | Album | Release date |
---|---|---|---|---|
CKay | "Felony" | 2020 | Boyfriend | 12 February 2021 |
"Skoin Skoin" | 2021 | |||
CKay & Payal Dev | "Kiss Me Like You Miss Me" | Non-album single | ||
CKay | "Emiliana" | Sad Romance | 23 September 2022 | |
"By Your Side" | ||||
"Maria" | 2022 | Non-album single | ||
"Watawi" | Sad Romance | 23 September 2022 | ||
"You" | ||||
"Mmadu" | ||||
"HALLELUJAH" | 2023 | Sad Romance (Deluxe) | 16 June 2023 | |
"nwayi" | ||||
Inkabi Zezwe | "Umbayimbayi" | Ukhamba | 24 March 2023 | |
CKay | "IS IT YOU?" | 2024 | TBA | 26 January 2024 |
"MYSTERIOUS LOVE" | ||||
Joeboy | "Osadebe" [41] | TBA | 16 February 2024 |
Bongo Flava is a nickname for Tanzanian music. The genre developed in the 1990s, mainly as a derivative of American hip hop and traditional Tanzanian styles such as taarab and dansi, with additional influences from reggae, R&B, and afrobeats, to form a unique style of music. Lyrics are usually in Swahili or English, although increasingly from mid 2000s there has been limited use of words from Sub-Saharan African music traditions due to the influence of Afrobeats and Kwaito with their dynamics usage of West African Pidgin English, Nigerian Pidgin or other Creole language.
Chocolate City is a Nigerian record label founded in 2005 by lawyer Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo]] and Yahaya Maikori. Generally regarded as one of the most successful indigenous urban record labels in Africa, Chocolate City operates as a subsidiary of Chocolate City Group. Other arms of the group include Chocolate City Distribution, Chocolate City Events, CCX, and Chocolate City Media. On 28 March 2019, Warner Music Group announced a partnership with the label. Under the partnership, Chocolate City artists will join WMG's repertoire and receive the support of the company's distribution and artist services via its independent label services division, ADA.
Bulelwa Mkutukana, known by her stage name Zahara, was a South African singer, songwriter and guitarist. Her music was classified loosely as "Afro-soul", and she sang in Xhosa, her native language, as well as in English.
Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack, professionally known as Diamond Platnumz, is a Tanzanian bongo flava recording artist, dancer, philanthropist and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of WCB Wasafi Record Label, Wasafi Bet and Wasafi Media. Diamond has gained a massive following in East and Central Africa. He became the first Africa-based artist to reach 900 million views on YouTube.
Temi DollFace is a Nigerian electro-pop-soul singer, who grew up in England. Her music is described as "a brand of music that is jazzy, energetic and theatrical". She is best known for her 2013 single "Pata Pata", which received four AFRIMA nominations at the All Africa Music Awards for "Best Video", "Revelation Of The African Continent", "Best African Pop Song" and "Most Promising African Artiste On The Continent". In 2016 TemiDollFace released the single "Beep Beep", ahead of an album release.
Rajab Abdul Kahali, also known by his stage name Harmonize, is a Tanzanian Bongo Flava recording artist, and entrepreneur.
Raymond Shaban, better known by his stage name Rayvanny, is a Tanzanian musician, songwriter and recording artist who was signed under WCB Wasafi record label until July 2022. He was born and raised in Nzovwe ward of Mbeya city, located in Mbeya Region. He is the most successful bongo flava musician in Tanzania from Mbeya region. His songs are mainly in Swahili. He is the founder and CEO of Next Level Music. Rayvanny is best known by his song "Kwetu", which introduced him to the world. Rayvanny was mentioned by MTV Base among "Acts To Look Out For" in 2017.
"Waka", is a song by Tanzanian bongo flava recording artist and dancer Diamond Platnumz, featuring American rapper Rick Ross. The song was made available for streaming and digital download on iTunes and various online music platforms on 1 December 2017. "Waka" is an Afropop song produced by Laizer.
Wasafi Classic Baby (WCB) is a Tanzania-based record label founded by musician Diamond Platnumz. WCB's commercial roster includes Diamond Platnumz, Mbosso, Zuchu, Lava Lava, Queen Darleen, and D Voice. The label is headquartered at Mbezi Beach, Dar Es Salaam. The label's Vice President is RJ The DJ, who is also Diamond Platnumz's official DJ, while the official producer of the label is Lizer Classic. In 2017, the WCB Wasafi artists released a joint project titled Zilipendwa, and in 2020, they released their second single titled Quarantine. In 2021, WCB Wasafi signed a publishing and distribution deal with Ziiki and Warner Music Group.
Hamisi Shaban Taletale, also known as Babu Tale, is a Tanzanian talent manager and politician presently serving as the Chama Cha Mapinduzi's Member of Parliament for Morogoro South constituency since November 2020. He is the co-founder of the WCB Wasafi music label.
Zuhura Othman Soud better known by her stage name Zuchu, born is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter born in Zanzibar. She is based in Dar es Salaam and signed to WCB Wasafi record label. She was awarded the Silver Plaque Button by YouTube for hitting 100,000 subscribers within a week. She became the first East African female artist to reach that milestone within a week. She also became the first East African female artist to reach 1 million subscribers on YouTube 11 months later. In 2020, Zuchu was named by AFRIMMA as the Emerging Artist Award winner.
"Love Nwantiti" is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter CKay, released in 2019 as the second track from his second extended play Ckay the First by Chocolate City through Warner Music Group. A remix of the song titled "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)" featuring Nigerian singer Joeboy and Ghanaian singer Kuami Eugene, released as a single in 2020, became a commercial success in Nigeria, Middle East, North Africa and in many European club venues, as well as the subject of collaborations with few local artists for localised variations. The French version included vocals by French rapper Franglish.
Chukwuka Chukwuma Ekweani, better known by his stage name Ckay, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer signed to Warner Music South Africa and Atlantic Records. He was formerly signed to Chocolate City, a member of Warner Music Group independent label services ADA. His international hit single "Love Nwantiti", also known as "Love Nwantiti ", was released in 2019 by Chocolate City. On 29 March 2022, the song debuted at number one, following the launch of the Billboard Afrobeats chart. On 9 May 2022, it became the first-ever African song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify and has since been deemed "the biggest hit in African history".
Nigerian Afrobeats singer CKay has released one studio album, three EPs, eleven singles, and one promotional single. CKay started his music career with Loopy Music, as a record producer. Following the merger between Loopy Music and Chocolate City, he automatically joined Chocolate City roaster. His production credits include M.I Abaga's "Your Father", Koker's "Give Them", Yung6ix's "Everything Gucci", Dotman's "Tonight", and Bisola's "Controlla". He is currently signed to Warner Music Africa, and Atlantic Records.
Sizwe Moeketsi Moniker is a South African musician commonly known as Reason, a name he uses as a rapper. He is also known as Sizwe Alakine, an alter ego he adopted after taking up a career in Amapiano.
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Michael Chigozie Alagwu, better known by his stage name Tempoe, is a Nigerian record producer, DJ, singer and songwriter. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he is popularly known for the tag "MÄD!", at the beginning or end of all his music productions. His production of CKay's breakout afrobeats song, Love Nwantiti received global recognition.
Abdul Juma Idd better known by his stage name Lava Lava is a Tanzanian singer signed under WCB Wasafi record label. His hit songs such as Saula, Nga'ring'ari, Habibi, Tuna Kikao and Tajiri have made a household in Tanzania. He is known for his signature Bongo Flava sound and Baibuda music style.
Romeo George alias RJ The DJ and Romy Jon(e)s is a Tanzanian DJ, record producer and television actor.
Hameedat Temilade Adeniji well known as Temi Adeniji is a Nigerian-American music executive, and board member of Warner Music Group. Temi is known for leading, Warner Music Group operations in Africa, and the managing director of Warner Music Africa. She is credited for the crossover success of CKay 2019 single "Love Nwantiti".