International media and music companies want to sell products from the African music market.
African music is becoming more and more popular online and on smartphones in places far beyond Africa.
Companies are noticing a global interest in African music. Universal Music Group has launched Virgin Music Africa Label & amp; Artistic services in June. It aims to support independent African music labels, often called labels, and artists.
The website will digitize music catalogs or collections of works from the same owner that are no longer available to buyers. The company aims to expand into the growing African sound market.
The interest of international companies is growing as African artists become prime performers of international music events such as festivals and concerts. Festivals include Afro Nation in Portugal and Africolor in France. African music forms such as Afrobeat, Rhumba, and Amapiano top the popular music charts known as the charts.
Franck-Alcide Kacou is Managing Director of Universal Music Africa and the new Virgin Music Africa label. He said he has over 15,000 music titles – or songs. Kacou added that he has 50 partner labels and about 100 artists from 25 countries.
Artists include Senegalese maestro M’balax Youssou Ndour, Kongo Lokua Kanza, Magic System from Ivory Coast and Cabo Snoop from Angola.
Kacou said the website will digitize and make African music available today on musical media such as vinyl, cassette or CD. The goal is to reach a younger audience.
Kacou told Reuters that “This is a real opportunity for countries also experiencing this digital transformation.”
He said the service will support independent labels looking for a wider network.
Kacou said finding a producer in Africa and making cultural works available is “a real challenge” for many artists. He added that most artists don’t get fair money for their music.
Loucoumane Coulibaly reported the story to The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it to VOA Learning English.
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Words in This Story
digital – adj. using or characterized by computer technology See the article : Wine matching your favorite music ….
possibility – no. amount of time or a situation in which something can be done
transformation – n. a total or serious change in someone’s or something in appearance or form
challenge – ed. difficult task or problem: something that is difficult to do
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