Gamma has established strategic partnerships with The Music Arena, The Temple Company and Sol Generation Publishing and Distribution in Africa as well as LPME Records in the Middle East.
Gamma's latest collaborations reinforce the company's commitment to supporting artists and labels in these regions, which its founder Larry Jackson described last year to Advertising sign when his media and entertainment company first expanded its operations there. Last May, Sipho Dlamini and Naomi Campbell joined gamma as president and special advisor for Africa and the Middle East, respectively. Larry Gaga named vp/GM for Africa and Danny Neville was named vice president of A&R for the Middle East last August.
“It is incredibly gratifying to see the enthusiasm our new strategic partners, artists and their stakeholders are showing in aligning with Gamma. We are on track, committed to enhancing the creative momentum for artists from these key markets,” Dlamini said in a press statement. “An indication of our ambition is that together with our new partners we are creating writing camps in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and [United Arab Emirates]. I know of no other company that navigates the continent and region in this way with this scope. The creative collaborations we create will further journey local music to global adoption.”
In June, the company officially launched gamma South Africa in Sandton, one of the country's largest financial hubs in Johannesburg. Gamma hosted a launch party on June 6, featuring Dlamini, Gaaga, Thabo Keith Ngweyagamma's strategic partnerships and cultural marketing leads in Africa, Sikhulile Nzuza, gamma's strategic partnerships, culture and operations lead in Africa, and more participants. The label has been providing dynamic opportunities for South African gigs since last year, such as tapping DJ/producer MöRDA to remix “Mysterious Ways” on The Color Purple (Music by and inspired by) which the label co-distributed with WaterTower Music last December (with Jackson as one of the producers, along with Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders). Gamma once again enlisted MöRDA as well as Major League Djz, Junior Taurus and Soa Mattrix to create remixes inspired by the amapiano and Afro House of Usher and Nigerian singer-songwriter-producer “Ruin” from the former's latest album. I'M COMING HOME which was distributed via Usher and LA Reid's mega and gamma in February.
Gamma's partnership with Johannesburg-based The Music Arena Group aims to continue to bridge the gap between South African artists and international markets, providing artists with unprecedented opportunities to work with an international label, leveraging gamma's expertise in global market (especially in the US). , with a special emphasis on artist collaborations and joint ventures.
Music Arena consists of three different music entities: Gallo Music, South Africa's largest and oldest independent record label; Gallo Music Publishers, Gallo's publishing arm home to iconic composers and a rich repository of cultural works. and Content Connect Africa, the continent's leading independent media and content business representing over 2,000 African artists and labels. Music Arena's global footprint spans South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and the US
“Music Arena is delighted to partner with gamma in a multi-faceted agreement, which will increase the presence of our artists internationally and represent gamma artists on the platforms of network providers in Africa,” he said. Andos Stella, CEO of The Music Arena, in a statement. “Our focus remains on the growth and development of our artists and composers worldwide.”
Gamma's new alliances aim to cover the entire African continent. The company's partnership with The Temple Company, a leading record label, TV and film production company and talent management agency based in Lagos, aims to connect Nigerian artistes with global audiences by developing and promoting Nigerian talent, with a particular focus on cross-cultural partnerships to maximize international exposure. One of the first projects of this collaboration is the Nigerian superstar D'Banjhis new album Entertainer–The Sequelthe follow-up to the 2008 album the entertainer, which will be released on August 16.
“Our partnership with gamma marks a pivotal moment for The Temple Company and the Nigerian music industry at large. This partnership will open up new opportunities for our artists to showcase their talents on a global stage,” he said. Idris Olorunnimbe, CEO of The Temple Company group. “We are extremely excited about D'Banj's upcoming album, Entertainer–The Sequel, which we believe will be a game changer in demonstrating the universal appeal of African music. Together with gamma, we are committed to nurturing and promoting the incredible talent that Nigeria has to offer and we are confident that this partnership will play a critical role in shaping the future of African music on the world stage.”
Gamma will also celebrate East Africa's rich musical heritage through its partnership with Nairobi, Kenya-based Sol Generation Publishing and Distribution, the music publishing and distribution arm of award-winning Afropop group Sauti Sol.
LPME Records is committed to producing music that inspires unity and celebrates cultural diversity and establishes Dubai, UAE as a musical creative hub. labels currently represents three dynamic artists: the label's first signee; DawdaGambian-Estonian star who blends Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B and pop and has written and produced for Britney Spears, Akon, Oxlade and Snoh Aalegra. Jasmine, an artist from Tajikistan known for her unique fusion of Arabic and pop music. and Alia, British singer/songwriter/dancer/actress who draws inspiration from soul, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, amapiano and Afrobeats. Additional signings will be announced later this summer.
LPME's state-of-the-art studios are renowned for superior sound quality and for being a creative hub that fosters musical innovation. The facility includes six production rooms, two Dolby Atmos rooms, a central stereo room, live band and vocal rooms and more. Artists such as J Balvin and Jason Derulo as well as Grammy-winning engineer Tony Maserati have previously worked there.
“We are incredibly excited to enter into this partnership with gamma. This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to share the rich and diverse sounds of our artists with a global audience,” he added. Moh Denebi, LPME Records label manager and producer. “Together with gamma, we are confident in our ability to increase the reach and impact of our artists, bringing fresh, innovative music to listeners around the world.”
