Music Industry
latest news & developments
Nomfundo Xaluva-Dyantyis knows the value of owning her music
Jazz musician and scholar Nomfundo Xaluva-Dyantis discusses her latest album Ndilapha, creative autonomy, the realities of music streaming, and the importance of business…
Who pays when music is ‘free’? The growing cost of digital piracy
While technology has transformed how we discover and enjoy music, it has also created new challenges for protecting the rights and livelihoods of the people who create it. At a…
Rowlene is figuring out which strings to keep attached
South African R&B singer-songwriter Rowlene releases her new album, Some Strings Attached, a collection of ballads exploring relationships with lovers, friends, family, and fans.…
Kamo Matsoso
At 32, Kamo Matsoso is redefining what it means to build a career in the arts. Equally at home on stage, in the lecture hall and behind the scenes, she has made it her mission to…
Can you hear the difference? AI music challenges the meaning of authenticity
AI is transforming music production, but growing concerns over transparency, artistry, and human creativity are reshaping the future of the industry
Manana and the art of trusting the process
Fresh off his Standard Bank Young Artist win, Manana reflects on growth, collaboration and creating space for alternative sound in South Africa
Zee Nxumalo isn’t chasing depth — she’s living it
At 23, the singer-songwriter is shaping South African music on her own terms, blending beats, introspection and a fearless sense of self
Zakes Bantwini on pain, praise and the power of Dance Music
Zakes Bantwini opens up about the sounds that saved him, the genres he helped shape, and the festival experience he’s building for South Africa
The cost of creativity
South African artists keep dying poor while their work enriches others. The Copyright Amendment Bill could finally change that – if it ever becomes law
Success is spelt Sarkodie
The Ghanaian musician is label-free, legacy-focused and making global moves that are on his own terms
Gyakie: When the music chooses the artist
Gyakie blends Afrobeats, R&B and soul to create a sound that’s all her own
Winter heats up with new South African Jazz releases
Three South African jazz musicians have second albums about to hit the shelves
Apple’s not-so-top 100 list: Is it rotten to the core?
The Mail & Guardian asked some of our favourite musicians and critics what they thought of the list and to tell us which three South African albums they believed should be on…
Apple’s Top 100 List: A coalition of Rock and Pop, but at what cost?
We South Africans know our coalitions (we’ll probably see more after our elections) and the recently released Apple Music 100 Best Albums list smells exactly like one
The year the music died — almost
Half of the participants in a recent study on the live music industry are likely to quit their craft