SONY MUSIC OPENS OFFICE IN LAGOS WITH MICHAEL UGWU TO MANAGE WEST AFRICA

Sony Music Entertainment has opened an office in Lagos Nigeria recruiting music business entrepreneur Michael Ugwu as General Manager to manage its West African operations. This is part of a long-term strategy to open offices in a number of key markets in the region.

It also recently began the process of registering to do business in Nairobi, Kenya, which will anchor the Sony Music’s physical operations in East Africa.

In connection with the opening of operations in Lagos, Sony Music recently signed Nigerian superstar Davido to a worldwide deal. 

In East Africa, SME has partnered with local artists in the region as well, recently signing Redsan amongst others.

These moves build upon Sony Music's existing business initiatives in Africa, where the company is already a market leader. Sony Music has long had offices in South Africa, in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, and throughout the continent, Sony Music earns revenue from partners including Vevo, YouTube, Apple Music and iTunes. In addition, in West Africa, music content is currently available through MTN Nigeria's service via IMI, and in East Africa it currently conducts trade with Kenya's largest mobile network operator, Safaricom, a company that boasts in excess of 10 million CRBT subscribers.

"Expansion in Africa has been part of our strategy for several years," said Adam Granite, President, Northern & Eastern Europe andAfrica, Sony Music International. "As the region continues to grow, we see significant opportunities to market the incredible local talent in Africa to the rest of the world as well as import our repertoire and exploit it on emerging digital platforms." said Sean Watson, Managing Director of Sony Music Entertainment Africa, "We are really keen to partner with African artists to deliver local, African and global success stories. With over 800 million people living in Sub Saharan Africa, the African continent is a market with huge potential for local artists wanting to expand their horizons."

Sony Music recently signed a content agreement with African telecoms giant MTN as part of its growth in Africa.

SPECIAL FEATURE: MICHAEL JACKSON'S NEW ALBUM TO COST £600

It is the news Michael Jackson fans have been waiting for - but those desperate for a new album by the King of Pop may have to buy a new mobile phone to hear it.

Sky News understands Sony Music Entertainment will release an album of the late singer's unreleased material and lost tracks by the end of April.

 However, it will initially be available only as pre-installed music on the Sony Xperia Z2 phone.

 An advert forthe Xperia Z2 phone uses a song from the album - a remix of Jackson track 'Slave 2 The Rhythm'.

 The ad features a ballerina dancing with a red sheet, and Sky News sources believe this will form part of the music video.

 The album is being produced by Epic Records, which is owned by Sony, and its chief executive LA Reid is thought to be personally involved.

 It would be the first Jackson album featuring fresh material since 2010's 'Michael'.

Music journalist Kevin Hughes said: "Because we're talking about a new Michael Jackson album, many fans will probably invest in the phone.

 "But Michael's music deserves to be available to all, so I hope the full album release will follow within days or weeks."

 Jackson was said to be working on new songs when he died in 2009 and rumours of an album surfaced last year.

 Renowned producer Timbaland is known to be working on several tracks.

 His official DJ, Freestyle Steve, tweeted last year: "So last night I heard some of the new tracks Timbaland is doing for the King of Pop … WOW!"

 Sony's official price for the Xperia Z2 is £599 in the UK and is expected to cost about $600 in the US.

The company is not the first to use music to sell phones.

 Rapper Jay Z made the first million copies of his 2013 album 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' available for free download to Samsung customers.