Sarz, a Nigerian producer, and Steve Stoute's UnitedMasters music distribution and artist services organization have partnered to open up new doors for African musicians. Under this arrangement, musicians would pay a one-time distribution fee and have the chance to acquire complete ownership of the deal's master recordings.
In an attempt to empower African musicians and provide them the opportunity to share their music with a global audience, UnitedMasters and Sarz have teamed up under the producer's 1789 label.
Stoute unveiled the strategy to help musicians at a press conference: a one-time charge for unrestricted song distribution. With the help of this special service, artists may access playlist data, in-depth analytics, and exclusive sync opportunities.
“Our services are tailored to meet the needs of the market instead of trying to force a fit. We want to grow and develop alongside this market. Our subscription model benefits both us and the artists, who retain 100% of their revenue. With half a million or a million artists signed up, everyone wins,” Stoute said.
He stated that other businesses join the market but go just as soon, leaving uncertainty about their level of commitment. United Masters, on the other hand, is dedicated to supporting teams in this area and will be here often.
Interestingly, United Masters has partnered with powerful organizations like the NBA, so music from musicians may be played during highlights or games. Stoute emphasized the unmatched quality of their all-in-one platform, taking pleasure in being the only supplier of distribution combined with brand partnerships, in-depth analytics, and playlist capabilities. With this ground-breaking project, artists will be empowered and their visibility will be increased globally.
When asked about his thoughts on the agreement, Sarz replied, "So far, it's been amazing." I really enjoy this cooperation, especially with the United Masters, since they always follow through on their commitments, and I adore working with people who don't overpromise and underdeliver.
Sarz underlined that in order to get ready for the international arena, emerging artists must go through a developmental stage, and he and his team are committed to seeing it through.
In response to inquiries on the company's ability to adjust over time given the multiplicity of industry cultures in Nigeria, Stoute stated that the only sensible course of action is to fail quickly in the new market, adapt, and learn.
Just over two years after the platform won a $50 million Series B investment, led by Apple with additional money from two previous backers: Google parent Alphabet and Andreessen Horowitz, news of UnitedMasters expansion to Africa via its agreements with Sarz and Mavin Records surfaces.
Six months later, in October 2021, UnitedMasters, under the direction of Andreessen Horowitz, raised an additional $50 million in investment. The platform for independent artist distribution was valued at $550 million in the latest round.
UnitedMasters introduced Beat Exchange, a brand-new beat marketplace, in May of last year.The firm and cryptocurrency platform Coinbase partnered in 2021 to enable independent artists to get payment in bitcoin via Coinbase's newly launched payroll service.
The announcement came after news from UnitedMasters in August 2021 about more financing options for independent musicians. One of these options, which was introduced in collaboration with beatBread, allows the distributor to provide qualifying artists with advances of up to $1 million.
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