Billboard Magazine

Written for music industry professionals and fans. Contents provide news, reviews and statistics for all genres of music, including radio play, music video, related internet activity and retail updates.

‘Stuck’ In First Gear: Grande & Bieber Bow

BILLBOARD 200

Africa Now

Billboard

Peak Streaming: Are We There Yet? • As the global music business faces an apparent slowdown — amid a pandemic — one unlikely market is emerging as a bigger revenue driver than ever. Here’s the real story behind the latest numbers

MARKET WATCH

UMPG TOPS HOT 100, SONY/ATV RULES RADIO

LITTLE RICHARD • 1932-2020

Streaming In Africa Goes Boomplay • The Chinese-owned platform says 86% of its 75 million users are in sub-Saharan Africa, and it’s outpacing Spotify and Apple to reach a market-projected 350 million listeners

Who Makes It Rain Down in Africa? • CAPASSO is emerging as an African licensing hub

HOW AFRICAN COLLECTING SOCIETIES ARE PERFORMING

STAGE BLIGHT • AFRICA’S ACTS ARE BIGGER THAN EVER. NOW IT NEEDS VENUES TO MATCH

SIPHO DLAMINI • Managing Director, South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa, Universal Music Group

The Scene • GLOBAL HIP-HOP

LOOK OUT, WORLD • With his Def Jam debut album, South African rapper Nasty C hopes to “open a whole new lane”

Starting A Wave • Launched in 2016 by Colin and Yvette Gayle (CEO and COO, respectively), along with general counsel Roger Patton and CFO Kevin Boakye, Johannesburg-based Africa Creative Agency has grown into a Pan-African talent and digital marketing agency representing clients across music, comedy and acting. The two industry veterans talk leaving Los Angeles for the front lines of Africa’s exciting transition into a global force.

LABEL LOOK • ARISTOKRAT GROUP

Soolking

SARZ • PRODUCER

BOMBINO’S PLAN FOR PRESERVATION

‘WE’VE BEEN EXPECTING THIS’ • The gold rush is on as major labels try to tap into Africa’s global potential

Unexpected Encounter • How Madonna ended up bringing a group of female drummers from Cape Verde on tour — and formed a “sisterhood” by the end

‘WE’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE’ • Three of Africa’s biggest stars — TIWA SAVAGE, DAVIDO and MR EAZI — are opening doors (and labels’ checkbooks). Here’s what they’re up against

CRISIS CONTAINED? • Several African nations responded quickly to COVID-19. But as they start to open back up, the music industry is hardly secure

MAPPING THE MUSIC • FORGET THE IDEA OF “AFRICAN MUSIC” AS A CATCH-ALL FOR THE CONTINENT’S VIBRANT, DIVERSE STYLES AND STARS. AS THE MAJOR-LABEL GROUPS DIG IN, IT’S TIME TO SHOWCASE THE ENTREPRENEURS — INCLUDING ARTISTS — WHO HAVE BUILT THRIVING BUSINESSES

HOMEWARD BOUND • Four decades ago, DENZYL FEIGELSON began an odyssey through the music biz in his native South Africa. Now, as CEO of Platoon, he’s paving the way for Apple’s expansion on the continent where he grew up

DESERT BEAT • With her Oasis Festival in Marrakech, MARJANA JAIDI is bringing global dance music stars (and their fans) to Morocco — and giving northern African artists access to a much bigger stage

ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO • FOUNDER, BATONGA FOUNDATION