Boomplay, which is Africa’s largest music streaming platform, reached an important milestone by surpassing 60 million users on the continent.
The news that the platform currently has 62 million users comes one month after it signed a licensing deal with Sony Music Entertainment, which was the last major music company to come to an agreement with them, and it comes in conjunction with the platform signing a licensing deal with Merlin.
Merlin is a global rights agency that represents 20,000 independent record companies and distributors, along with artists such as:
- Bon Iver
- Major Lazer
- Sleater-Kinney
Merlin’s deal with Boomplay comes at a time of great transition at the nonprofit organization. CEO Charles Caldas, who has been running the organization for a dozen years, will be leaving at the end of the month, with no replacement yet named. They are also in the process of moving their Amsterdam headquarters to Dublin.
Phil Choi, who is the director of content and strategy at Boomplay, said of the deal with Merlin: “We are so excited to be working with Merlin and introducing the world’s largest network of independent labels into Africa.”
Charlie Lexton, who is the chief commercial officer at Merlin, also commented on the deal.
He said, “Merlin is a globally-facing business and I am delighted that our independent members will now be at the heart of Africa’s exciting and fast-evolving music market.” He also added that he looked forward to “further developing this partnership and building deep and lasting connections across the continent.”
Owned by China-based Transsnet Music Limited, Boomplay began operations in Nigeria back in 2015. Its catalog of over 10 million songs is available to users in the following countries:
- Cameroon
- Ghana
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
In addition to Sony, the platform signed a licensing deal with UMG in November of 2018. They followed this by signing a similar deal with Warner Music in March of this year.
Credit: Digital Music News
