MePlaylist inks distro deals with Fuga and Symphonic

Based in the Netherlands, Fuga brings 6 million songs to MePlaylist music archives while Symphonic, based in the US, complements the app by an additional 1 million songs. Fuga has collaborated with high-profile labels including Red One, Better Noise, Riot Games, Tommy Boy Entertainment, Epitaph Records, Armada and Ultra Music. Symphonic boasts an artist line-up that includes American rapper Lil Flip as well as Nigerian musicians Korede Bello and Yemi Alade.

“It is a time of dynamic growth for the music business,” Michael Kay Kiladejo, who is in charge of global licensing and content acquisition at MePlaylist, said. “So much of that dynamism is coming from the African industry and its collaborations with global partners. It’s all the more exciting to be in the business of delineating the musical palette and exposing great material to even wider audiences.

“It gives us great pleasure to open up shop and work in partnership with both Fuga and Symphonic distribution, to provide the musical consumer with their own uniquely tailored MePlaylist experience.”

Symphonic CEO Jorge Brea said: “I am very excited to be working with MePlaylist. Africa is one of the most exciting regions in music right now and we’re happy to be able to interface with them to bring our diverse catalogue to their platform along with learning more about the region and its incredibly talented artists.”

“We are delighted that Fuga will now be able to deliver our clients’ repertoire to MePlaylist,” Fuga’s head of commercial legal affairs and licensing, Loredana Cacciotti, added.

“We always look to expand our reach to new services and markets, and we are excited to work closely with MePlaylist and build strong lasting connections in Nigeria and across Africa.”

MePlaylist’s latest deals follow an earlier announcement of the appointment of Kiladejo and Mathew Knowles in global executive roles. Earlier this year, Knowles ­– who is known for managing his daughters Beyoncé and Solange as well as Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire and Destiny’s Child ­– was also reported to have invested in the company.

Founded by US-based entrepreneur Olakunle Oladehin in 2017, MePlaylist is available in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as in the UK and North America.