Universal Music Group has struck an expanded deal with African music streaming service Boomplay to extend licensing of UMG’s global music catalog to upwards of 47 countries across Africa, Music Business Worldwide reports.

These new markets include key territories in countries such as South Africa, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Senegal. News of the expanded deal arrives just after rival Spotify recently expanded across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.

According to a press release, the outlined agreement details an “ongoing commitment to support and grow Africa’s domestic music ecosystems, while also creating new opportunities for Pan-African talent to reach new audiences domestically, regionally and around the world.”

Under the new agreement, UMG’s African labels — including Def Jam Africa, Motown Gospel Africa, AI Records, and Afroforce1 — will all be supported. Additionally, the deal will also distribute artists and labels via Electromode and Ingrooves Music Group within Africa.

Some recent projects that have released as a result of this deal include the “Rhythms Of Zamunda: Music Inspired By Coming 2 America” — a Def Jam Africa compilation that introduced a musical roadmap through Western, Eastern, and South African soundscapes, a press release shares.

Back in 2018, UMG became the first major global music company to license music to Boomplay, whose catalog currently holds over 50 million tracks and claims to offer the largest repertoire of local African content globally, according to Music Business Worldwide.

“Since our original deal with UMG, the African music industry has seen exponential growth and made huge strides towards being the next powerhouse that it should be,” Boomplay’s Director of Content & Strategy, Phil Choi shared in a statement. “We’re excited to continue partnering with the UMG team to help promote their African and international artists by bringing their catalogue to even more regions across Africa.”

Over the past five years, UMG has consistently expanded its operations across Africa, and it shares that its presence will continue to grow throughout the rest of 2021 and beyond.

“We are delighted to expand our relationship with Boomplay, who over the past few years have shown themselves to be dedicated to providing the best in music to fans across the continent,” Sipho Dlamini — CEO of Universal Music Group, South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa — said in a statement. “Through this extended agreement, Boomplay will now help supply improved access to the world’s largest and most diverse music catalog to their broad user base, as we continue to introduce the best in African and international music to the rapidly growing streaming audience across Africa.”

For more information about UMG and Boomplay’s new deal, click here.

Boomplay

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