Audiomack expands licensing agreement deal with Universal Music Group, covering Africa, the UK and Canada – Music Business Worldwide

Streaming and discovery platform Audiomack has inked a licensing agreement with Universal Music Group (UMG).

The deal makes UMG content available to Audiomack subscribers in countries across the African continent, the UK and Canada.

The agreement between the two companies expands on a previous licensing agreement between Audiomack and UMG for the US.

With this new expansive agreement, a curated selection of UMG content is available now for Audiomack users in 16 African countries.

These countries are Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe), alongside the UK and Canada.

UMG says it will also provide Audiomack a full catalog offering for its premium subscribers in Africa.

In partnering with Audiomack to make its content available across Africa, UMG joins the likes of Distrokid, who struck a deal with Audiomack in 2021, and Warner Music Group, who in the same year signed a licensing deal with Audiomack for key African territories including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania.

WMG first entered into a partnership with Audiomack in August 2019, marking the platform’s first licensing deal with a major label.

“Millions of listeners across Africa, the UK, and Canada use Audiomack every day.”

Dave Macli, Audiomack

Dave Macli, Audiomack co-founder and CEO, said: “Millions of listeners across Africa, the UK, and Canada use Audiomack every day.

“Our expanded partnership with UMG helps artists in these regions better connect with their local fans and helps artists around the globe tap into a new audience of discovery-focused music fans.”

“We are excited for more fans across Africa and beyond to have greater access to some of Africa’s most exciting musical talent.”

Sipho Dlamini, Universal Music South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa

Sipho Dlamini, CEO, Universal Music South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa, added: “We are excited for more fans across Africa and beyond to have greater access to some of Africa’s most exciting musical talent, as well as UMG’s unrivalled catalog of international superstars and releases.

“We welcome Audiomack as a partner and look forward to working with them to help strengthen the entire streaming ecosystem in Africa.”

“We are excited for the future development of streaming across the continent.”

Frank Kacou, Universal Music Africa

Frank Kacou, Managing Director, Universal Music Africa, said: “Working with Audiomack will enable our artists from across the continent to reach wider across both French-speaking Africa and beyond, as well as to build their audiences across Canada, the UK and US.

“We are excited for the future development of streaming across the continent and to finding great new ways to collaborate together with the team at Audiomack.”

In June, UMG launched Virgin Music Label & Artist Services in Africa.

UMG said at the time that the division will focus on supporting the next wave of independent artists, labels, influencers, and entrepreneurs from the region.

Universal launched Virgin Music Label & Artist Services in February 2021 as a global division serving independent artists and labels that UMG said is “inspired and influenced by the spirit and ethos of the iconic Virgin Records label”.Music Business Worldwide