Business

AML Deal Maker: GH Rapper D-Black Signs Digital Distribution Deal with Universal Music Group, Black Avenue Muzik Baby!

D-Black The Revelation Front DeluxeYou Got Chris Brown attributing ‘Azonto’ to Nigerians when Ghanaians have been straight killin’ it. So of course you knew it would be only a matter of time when a Ghanaian artist stepped up and said, “y’all need to quit with all the nonsense.” 🙂 D-Black, one of the hardest go getters I am aware of in Africa’s music industry, shuts it down with his latest signing of a music digital distribution deal with Universal Music Group. Now if you recall, AML’s Udeme Uwan told you all about UMG  and its launch of The Kleek , a digital distribution music service for the African market.  Now, we see UMG make their move which means they will be gunning for other top artists. The question is what kinds of contracts these artists have signed with existing digital distributors i.e. IROKO et al. This is where it should get interesting in the future. If you are IROKO et al., you pray UMG tries to mess with your exclusive contracts because you know you can hit them where it hurts. If you are a big named artist, you sef know your pocket book will suffer if you want to walk at this point. So, for all parties, calculated risks which includes factoring possible settlement amounts/litigation costs, has to be the order of the day before the next move i.e. breakup occurs.

By the way, D-Black is what I call an AML Deal Maker i.e an entrepreneur who is about the business, the money, the music and has straight laser focused vision. No distractions, not even “Vera’s” allure. 🙂 Congrats D-Black.  AML people, let’s stay focused from here on out  on UMG shall we? They certainly bring competition to the  doorsteps of Nigerian owned digital distribution businesses currently in the game right now.  Check out the release D-Black sent me below.

-Uduak

“Multiple award winning Ghanaian Rap star D-Black da Ghana Bwouy has signed a major two year distribution deal with the African imprint of one of the biggest and most successful labels in the world, Universal Music Group.

The deal was finalized on Tuesday the 2nd of April after Universal Music Group approached the rap star’s Black Avenue Muzik label in early March. D-Black and his Black Avenue Muzik team are scheduled to visit the offices of Universal Music Group in Johannesburg, South Africa after his May 26 U.K Concert in London.

The rapper & C.E.O of his own imprint Black Avenue Muzik, released his sophomore album ‘The Revelation’ in Ghana three months and is set to officially launch the album as well as a brand new single in Johannesburg on the 19th of June hosted by Big Brother 7 housemate Barbz in partnership with the Universal Music Group and Samsung Africa.

South African rap stars Tear Gas, Maggz , L Tido as well as newly signed Black Avenue Muzik act and rising superstar Joey B from Ghana are also billed to perform at the event.

Universal Music Group founded in 1934 is an American multinational music company and one of the big four’ record companies in the world. But, as is the norm in music business, Universal Music SA is a ‘South African’ company distributing in that country and environs.

Nigerian acts D’Banj and P Square also have similar distribution deals with Universal Music Group and are signed under their imprint.

The digital distribution deal / The Kleek will cover D-Black’s latest album ‘The Revelation’ and all singles released off the album as well as his third album scheduled for release in December 2013 tentatively titled ‘Son of God’. Mr. Randall Abrahams , M.D of Universal Music Group Africa is excited at the opportunities this signing would create and the exposure of D-Black’s music to the rest of the world.

D-Black’s ‘The Revelation’ album and it’s chart topping smash hit singles ‘VERA’, ‘Change Your Life’ and ‘Falling’ received an impressive 6 nominations at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards in the categories of 2013 Artist of the Year, Most Popular Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Hiphop Song of the Year, Hiplife of the Year and Hiphop Artist of the Year.

‘I’m really excited at all these wonderful prospects and at joining the Universal Music Group family. I have so much music to share with the continent and the world and this is undoubtedly a huge platform for me to get music out there and represent for African hip-hop. I’m in my third year of being a solo artist and this is big for me, my country and African music’. Get ‘The Revelation’ album now guys and gear up for ‘Son of God’ D-Black says.”

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ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Credited for several firsts in the fashion and entertainment industry, Uduak Oduok (Ms. Uduak) is a fashion and entertainment lawyer, speaker, visionary, gamechanger, trailblazer, and recognized thought leader, for her work on Africa’s emerging global fashion and entertainment markets, and the niche practice of fashion law in the United States. She is also the founder of ‘Africa Music Law,’ an industry go-to music business and law blog and podcast show empowering African artists. Her work in the creative and legal industries has earned her numerous awards and recognitions, including an award from the American University Washington College of Law for her “legal impact in the field of intellectual property in Africa." She has also taught as an Adjunct Professor at several institutions in the United States. For more information, visit her at https://msuduak.com.

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