Times Of Swaziland: UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP SA OPEN TO ESWATINI

UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP SA OPEN TO ESWATINI
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Nombuso Dlamini on 29/07/2022 09:40:00


Mbabane – The doors are open!
Universal Music Group (UMG) South Africa (SA) has opened up to artists in the
kingdom. The music entity is the world’s leading music company and currently
operates in over 60 countries. In the past two weeks, the kingdom was graced
with the company’s talent recruiter, Lindelani Lee Makeba, who was here to
host a series of workshops with emerging artists in the country. When reached
for comment, Lee expressed that his trip was independent of the stable, but was
open to any available talent willing to showcase their work to him. He further
explained that even though he wasn’t sent to Eswatini by the stable, the
company was open to new talent, and gave this publication a source within the
stable to help us know how artists in the kingdom can reach the platform. The
music stable is one of the top music companies in the world, and actually
controls around 80 per cent of the American music market.
Extend
The company comes with a ton full load of perks from financials to health
benefits that extend to the artist’s family. Universal Music Africa develops
and operates the entire UMG catalogue across the region, alongside a domestic
catalogue of more than 100 artists, including some of the continent’s most
popular and influential artists under several labels, including Def Jam Africa
and Motown Gospel Africa. In 2021 the company announced an exposition into
finding stars in Africa; this is where the CEO, Sipho Dlamini stated that they
would be rapidly expanding the artists’ music to a wider range of audiences.
Dlamini is responsible for thrusting new talent and stars into the spotlight.
Artists singed under UMG are out and about attracting people on popular
streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. Surely the streaming revolution
came at the right time. The company has channels in which an artist can submit
their music if they have not been recognised by the stable prior.
Accept
Demo submissions must be directed to UMG, but they are unable to accept
unsolicited material. Typically, demos are recommended to one of the labels’
A&R departments by a manager, agent, producer, radio DJ or other industry
professional. Working at the stable is seen as more than just a job, it’s the
total package. From financial well-being and comprehensive health insurance, to
an extensive assortment of employee assistance and self-care programmess. Other
benefits are;
For Artist’s Health
Comprehensive medical/dental/vision
Well-being reimbursement for select personal expenses
Critical illness and hospital indemnity
Short/long-term disability
Life insurance
For Artist’s Finances
E401 000 matching
Tuition reimbursement
Student loan assistance
Flexible spending accounts
For Artist’s Family
Adoption and fertility benefits
Family care leave
Employee assistance counseling
Flexible PTO
Generous company holidays (Extended winter break, well-being Fridays)
Challenges have also been highlighted, hence the delay of the company reaching
all African countries.They expressed that it was difficult to have a Pan African
strategy as each country had its own laws, Telcos, and this derailed deals and
signings. A local stable which opted to remain anonymous but had a lot to say
about the matter shared.
Establish
“This is not something we can rejoice about because we will not get paid
through this platform. We need to establish our own platforms and the societies
in the country should speed up the process of establishing structures within the
kingdom. We are not going to get paid through this way because there are
structures like SAMRO (South African Music Rights Organisation) which motor
their artist airplay. As a country, we don’t pay for what is played on our
radio stations and artists are now in the cross fire,” shared the anonymous
member of a stable.”