How The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Affecting Africa's Music Industry

British singer Alexandra Burke shot to fame in the U.K. after winning Britain’s “The X Factor” back in 2008.

coronavirus pandemic. With an electrifying mix of vocals and dance moves, the group made the finals of the U.S.

Mobos), has said negative media coverage nearly ended the event, in a wide-ranging open letter that calls for racism in the British music industry to “no longer be swept under a red carpet”.King, who founded the Mobos in 1996, sent the letter to the culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, and told the Guardian the awards show could very easily “not be in business” after inaccurate reports about the event made sponsors reticent to be associated with it.King says that after an incident at a record label

Probably one of the gay-friendliest ways to explore Southern Africa. It is hard to find the right words to describe our first-ever Africa experience, especially because we choose a completely new way of traveling for us by boarding a train from Rovos Rail.

Following last week’s Black Out Tuesday initiative, a new organisation has been formed in the UK seeking to ensure that this time round the commitments made by people and companies in the music industry to address prejudice, discrimination and racism – within the industry and beyond – are actually met.

Former Love Island contestant and ex-cop Mike Boateng has published an angry tirade against his former employer Greater Manchester Police, accusing the force and individual officers he has named of being racist.

Veteran British artist manager and label executive Keith Harris has posted a striking open letter to the music industry’s hierarchy, calling for enduring change.Harris, who has worked on both sides of the Atlantic, entered the industry in 1974, first with Transatlantic Records and later with EMI and Motown, among other labels.Through his career, he worked with the likes of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, and many more, and to this day continues to represent Stevie Wonder.A tireless

Several international stars have come forward to show their support to the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement. The powerful movement was a result of the death of an unarmed black citizen in the US.

Major labels have joined other music industry groups and artists in pledging a “blackout” to protest against the death of George Floyd.

Growing up in Ramsbottom journalism ran in the blood for Alison Towner.

By Elaine Low

Def Jam is going international. A little more than a half a year after launching Def Jam South East Asia, Universal Music Group announced Def Jam Africa, a new division based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria, that will focus on "hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent in Africa" and report to Universal Music Sub-Saharan Africa & South Africa managing director Sipho Dlamini.

Today, Universal Music Group announced that it is launching Def Jam Africa, a new label division that operates within the continent to represent the best hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent in Africa. To start, the label will be based in Johannesburg and Lagos; the entirety of its starting roster comes from either South Africa and Nigeria.

It’s an exciting day in the local music industry today as record giant Universal Music South Africa announces that they have developed a local division of the world-famous Def Jam Recordings imprint – and it’s set to be a game-changer for African music.

By Jem Aswad

Def Jam is going international. A little more than a half a year after launching Def Jam South East Asia, Universal Music Group today announced Def Jam Africa, a new division based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria, that will focus on "hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent in Africa" and report to Universal Music Sub-Saharan Africa & South Africa Managing Director Sipho Dlamini.

Tori Amos has said she is “grieving” for the state of the music industry during the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s a big day for Mi Casa! The local trio are known for blending house music with a proudly South African flair and as they continue to promote their new single ‘Church Bells’, the lead single off their upcoming studio album ‘We Made It’, the group has announced a new global partnership with Afroforce1 Records, a division of Universal Music Group Africa.

For Billboard's Platoon Africa Artist Showcase, emerging singer-songwriter Msaki stunned fans with a liberating Billboard Live At-Home performance Thursday (May 21) from her home studio.