Boomplay has long been recognized as one of the most exciting music streaming platforms in Africa, boasting over 98 million monthly active users as of the end of 2023 and showing a strong growth trajectory. However, the platform’s relationship with major global rightsholders in the music industry is becoming increasingly uncertain. Recently, MBW confirmed that Sony Music has removed its entire catalog from Boomplay, including titles distributed by The Orchard and AWAL. Additionally, sources indicate that other rightsholders have been expressing concerns over delayed royalty payments from the platform.
Boomplay is owned by Transsnet Music, a joint venture between TRANSSION Holdings Group, a mobile phone manufacturer based in China, and NetEase, a Chinese internet giant that operates the streaming service NetEase Cloud Music. The streaming service established its licensing agreement with Sony Music in 2019, having previously signed deals with the other two major music companies, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group. In 2021, Boomplay also entered into a licensing deal with the independent label agency Merlin.
News of Boomplay’s strained relationship with rightsholders comes five years after the company raised $20 million in a Series A funding round in 2019 to expand its operations across Africa and enhance its track catalog. Sources report that the company is currently seeking additional funding. Since its launch in 2015, Boomplay claims to have become the leading music streaming and download platform in Africa. It was initially launched in Nigeria by TECNO Mobile and now has offices in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The platform offers both ad-supported and premium subscription options and competes with various services, including Audiomack, as well as global giants like Spotify and Apple Music, alongside local competitors such as Mdundo. Boomplay’s rise has paralleled the growth of Sub-Saharan Africa’s recorded music market, which has been recognized as the fastest-growing music region in both 2022 and 2023, according to the IFPI.
The removal of Sony’s catalog from Boomplay follows the recent departure of Phil Choi, who served as the Managing Director of the Africa-focused music streaming service for six years before transitioning to a role at Warner Music Group.