Boomplay to invest $1m in Kenya

Boomplay Kenya general manager Martha Huro made the announcement during the platform's music conference at Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi this week.

The conference, which tackled topics aimed at improving the state of music distribution in the Kenyan digital space, was attended by artists, music producers, promoters, distributors and Boomplay executives, including CEO Joe He.

“Boomplay will invest $1m,” Huro said. “We know that finances are a major issue with artists and we cannot sit on the sidelines and not do something. So we are willing to invest in production and A&R.”

“I think it’s a good amount to start with, but artists need to be registered on the platform. We expect to see a change in the next 12 months. Our brand strategy is to strive and build an industry that we can be proud of in the near future.”

Huro said she was confident that the funding would “facilitate collaborations between Kenyan artists and other African acts across different regions and prompt the consistency of music releases in Kenya.”

“We never discriminate, so whether you are an established or upcoming artist, you are eligible. As long as your ideas, focus and vision make sense, then we sponsor you,” she said.

Boomplay Kenya plans to hold a series of industry events such as panel discussions across Kenya, Huro said.

“Artists are an integral part of our business and we delight in every opportunity we can create and get to educate and promote them. There is so much work to be done on our part and we hope that by way of education through forums like these, we are able to eventually get more Kenyans to play songs by more Kenyan artists,” she said.