South Africa Counts on Big Incentives for Post-Pandemic Business Boost

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.

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.

< 1 min read South Africa’s Government is facing criticism from human rights groups for excluding LGBT+ refugees and asylum seekers from crucial coronavirus relief packages.

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.

By Jem Aswad

Downtown Music Holdings announced its acquisition of South Africa-based independent music publisher Sheer Music on Monday (May 18), expanding the company's footprint on the continent and providing Sheer’s African artists with new access to global markets.Under the deal, which builds on a longstanding relationship between Sheer and Downtown’s publishing division, Sheer will continue to operate as a standalone business within Downtown’s portfolio, maintaining its independent royalty platform to

Ndlovu Youth Choir keeps flying the South African flag high. After wowing audiences around the globe with their proudly South African interpretations of some of the world’s biggest hits on America’s Got Talent, the Ndlovu Youth Choir have released a new album with even more amazing renditions. The choir ha become a symbol of hope and pride for South Africans and we get up close and personal with Ralf Schmitt, the choir’s artistic director, as we celebrate their massive impact.

Nina Dobrev recently got nostalgic about the good old days when she could step out of her house and take a trip to South Africa without a care in the world. The Vampire Diaries actress, who is currently practicing social distancing amid the Coronavirus pandemic, took to Instagram to share a series of throwback posts from her chill getaway. She posted a couple of pictures and a video in which she can be seen having the time of her life.   

Pink Loerie co-founder Juan Lerm-Hoffman

Former Irish TV personality Grainne Seoige is speaking out about the harsh restrictions during the lockdown in South Africa.

He’s one of the most proflic rappers in the South African hip-hop space right now and 2019 has been of Nasty C’s biggest year’s to date. His 2018 album ‘Strings & Bling’ continues to be one of the biggest local albums on streaming charts around the country and with a variety of performances, Nasty C’s star-power continues to grow.

Johann Els will now be running the Mr Gay World South Africa pageant

Twin brothers Brian and Andrew Chaplin, best known as the internationally-acclaimed duo Locnville, recently launched the initiative ContraBution which exists to fund and further established initiatives that are contributing positively to society.