VerseOne launches global promotional services for artists

The move is geared towards facilitating enhanced exposure and expanded reach for musicians and labels. VerseOne currently boasts partnerships with more than 280 global digital streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Pandora, offering comprehensive music distribution, publishing, and synchronisation services for independent artists and labels.

The newly launched services include distributing official press releases to major international news outlets, independent playlist pitching, sending pre-written press releases to respected music magazines, and providing radio and music video promotions.

The outfit is also making a foray into billboard advertising around the world spanning 50 countries and offering artists and independent labels a seamless way to promote new releases, events, and tours across international locations such as New York City, Atlanta, Nashville, Los Angeles, London, Miami, and more.

The initiative emphasises creative freedom, allowing artists to better spotlight their releases in prominent global destinations while allowing them to target offline audiences strategically, such as promoting near-relevant music events.

“Afrobeats and Afropop genres are making huge cultural impacts on the world, similar to how K-pop has taken over pop culture over the last decade, VerseOne told Music In Africa about the impact of their new services on the African music industry. “We recognise that many independent artists and labels in Africa may not have access to the resources needed to promote their music without a major label or a manager, so it is VerseOne’s desire to provide tools that go beyond just distribution. Giving these musicians a platform to be able to reach global audiences is crucial, especially with the rise in popularity of many African genres.

“A key component to why VerseOne was established in the first place was to “globalise” music for people who may be living abroad but yearn to hear the music from their homes. People all around the world have their music preferences and hold them close to their hearts, so we want to give our artists a chance to reach their listeners, no matter where they’re located in the world.

On how VerseOne’s strategy aligns with the rise of independent artists in the African music scene, the company stresses its empowerment of artists through tools previously accessible only to major labels. Additionally, VerseOne distinguishes itself by offering an 85% streaming royalty rate compared to the typical 60–70% from other distributors, underlining its commitment to artist support and fair compensation.

Meanwhile, VerseOne is expanding its presence across Africa through a partnership enabling targeted pitches of Afro-centric genres to TV channels in specific African and French regions through Trace TV. The company also operates a Lagos-based studio where Nigerian artists are invited to contribute to the VerseOne on One series to promote their work.