Apple Music
Apple Music Launches Africa Rising to Amplify the Continent’s Next Generation of Artists
Apple Music has announced a new artist discovery initiative that seeks to spotlight the emerging artists of the world’s second largest continent. The launch of the Africa Rising initiative sees the addition of a new playlist to the Apple Music ecosystem by the same name. The mission to uplift Africa’s next generation of stars arrives with Nigerian Afro-fusion artist and producer Omah Lay as the playlist’s first cover feature. Lay’s debut EP Get Layd was released in May, sparking several appearances for him on Nigeria’s Top 10 singles chart. The EP additionally netted him the top album on Apple Music Nigeria at the time. “I have always used Apple Music, seeing my favorite artists on playlist covers and features but here I am looking pretty as Ap...
Apple Music Launches Africa Rising Artist Showcase with Debut Cover Star Omah Lay
The new program, designed to elevate the careers of African artists, will also include a companion playlist. Over the last couple of years, Africa has become an increasingly important force on the global music scene, leading labels, publishers and streaming services to extend their reach on the long-neglected continent. In late April, Apple Music announced an expansion of its platform in two dozen African countries, and now the streaming service has unveiled a new initiative to identify and showcase rising talent on the continent. Named Africa Rising, the artist program and companion playlist will feature an African artist chosen by Apple Music’s editorial team every two months, using the full weight of the platform to elevate their careers in Africa and around the world. The first artist ...
Sony’s Music Portal Launches Two New Features for African Artists
Sony Music Entertainment Africa has just unveiled two state-of-the-art features – Real-Time Earnings and Cash-Out – that allow their artists to view and withdraw earnings faster than ever before through the Sony Music Artist Portal. In these unprecedented times where artists need immediate access to funds, the Real-Time Earnings element of the Sony Music Artist Portal is available anytime, anywhere and provides artists with immediate updates about their global earnings and account balances, while also giving them faster insights into their earnings trends. The Cash-Out element gives artists even greater control over their money by providing them with the ability to request a withdrawal of all, or part, of their payable balance, and there are no hidden fees or charges that are incurred when...
The Weeknd Donated $500K to Racial Justice Initiatives: ‘Please Give What You Can Even If It’s a Small Amount’
The R&B star also challenged major labels and streaming services to “go big and public” with their donations. The Weeknd is urging his nearly 23 million followers to follow his lead in donating to nonprofit organizations committed to racial equality. On Monday (June 1), the star detailed receipts of $500,000 in donations he split between Black Lives Matter Global Network, Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp and National Bail Out. “Keep supporting our brothers and sisters out there risking everything to push for actual change for our black lives,” he captioned the Instagram slideshow. “Urging everyone with big pockets to give and give big and if you have less please give what you can even if it’s a small amount.” In a follow-up post t...
YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Pledge Support for Blackout Tuesday
Image by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images YouTube Music, Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music have all pledged in support of Blackout Tuesday – a campaign calling for the music industry to put normal day-to-day operations on ‘pause’ and “and instead spend time reflecting on how to support the black community.” According to The Verge, this movement is “aimed at protesting police violence and racism as well as honouring George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police has sparked universal outcry and demonstrations in US cities and around the world.” The global music streaming platforms have each attempted to do just this through social media blackouts, specially dedicated and curated playlists as well as moments of silence. “June 2nd is Black Out Tuesday, a day of collective disconnect from w...
Here’s What Streaming Services Are Doing for Black Out Tuesday and Beyond
Spotify, Bandcamp, SiriusXM and more are meeting the moment with a range of initiatives. As protests sparked by the death of 46-year-old Minneapolis resident George Floyd heated up this weekend, music companies began making statements in support of the movement to end police brutality against black Americans. On Friday, a number of companies and artists began sharing a statement posted under the hashtag #TheShowMustBePaused, which calls for “a day to disconnect from work and reconnect with our community” and “an urgent step of action to provoke accountability and change.” Started by Atlantic Records marketing executives Brianna Agyemang and Jamila Thomas, who are both black, the call for a day of action — which is now being called “Black Out Tuesday” — sparked other compa...
Apple Music Slashes Subscription Prices for Kenyan Users
Sourced from the South Africa. Apple Music has reduced its prices by almost half of the original price and increased its trial period by double the initial period in Kenya. The subscription-based music streaming service offers access to over 50-million songs. Initially, individual users would have to pay about KES 1,066 ($9.99), however, this is about to change. According to Apple, the new prices will be as follows: Individuals will now pay KES 319.17 ($2.99) Family package, with up to six members, will cost KES 532.66 ($4.99) University Students in Kenya will now pay KES 159.05 ($1.49) What isn’t clear from the price reduction is whether or not the library of content has also been slashed. It is yet not known whether or not users will have the amount of music available to them also ...
Lil Wayne Chopped It Up With Eminem, Kevin Durant, Swizz Beatz & More On Young Money Radio
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty Lil Wayne is still very much an active musician but should he decide to hang up the microphone for good, he’ll surely have a career in media waiting on him. On the third installment of his Young Money Radio show, Tunechi hosted yet another star-studded affair with Eminem, Kevin Durant, and more joining him for the live broadcast. As the first artist to live stream their self-hosted radio show on Apple Music when he launched back in April, Weezy F. Baby opened up this latest venture with a bang. Past guests include Drake, Lil Baby, Shaquille O’Neal, Stephen A. Smith, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and many more. Live from his Miami recording studio, Young Tune showed an expert hand as an interviewer, most especially when he and Slim Shady entered into a conve...
Billie Eilish and Her Father Launch “me & dad radio” on Apple Music
Billie Eilish and her father, the actor Patrick O’Connell, have announced “me & dad radio”. The new show will premiere on Apple Music this Friday, May 8th, at 3 pm EDT. This will be Eilish’s second program on Apple Music, after her 2018 show “groupies have feelings too”. That preceded her Grammy-winning breakout LP, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, and now she has the clout to demand her dad be a part of the proceedings. O’Connell has a four-decade acting career, with bit parts in NYPD Blue, The West Wing, Supergirl and Baskets. As it turns out, he also has pretty good taste in tunes. “My dad and I have been putting each other on to music since I can remember, and we want to share it with you,” Eilish told Zane Lowe. She added, “My dad and I have had this relationshi...
