Virgin Music Group has extended its global distribution deal with South Africa’s Gallo Record Company and Content Connect Africa (CCA), the companies announced (Reported by Music Week)
The renewed agreement will see Virgin Music continue to distribute music from Gallo and CCA artists worldwide while the South African companies focus on local artist development, marketing initiatives, and songwriting camps.
In a statement, Virgin Music Group said the collaboration represents “a powerful step in strengthening African music’s presence worldwide, combining nearly a century of heritage with forward-looking innovation.”
Virgin Music Group South Africa Managing Director Nicole Thomas stated, “This partnership is about combining strengths to build a sustainable ecosystem for African music globally. Gallo Record Company and CCA are deeply committed to nurturing artists, and Virgin brings the global reach, infrastructure, and expertise to ensure their music thrives.”
Founded in 1926, Gallo Record Company is South Africa’s oldest independent record label and will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year.
Its catalog includes historic recordings by Miriam Makeba, Lucky Dube, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Mango Groove. Current artists include K.Keed, Falabo, and Nozipho Phiri across genres including Maskandi, mbaqanga, jazz, gospel, and pop.
Gallo and CCA were acquired by The Music Arena in 2020. Content Connect Africa operates as an independent media and content business expanding South African music across the continent, with a roster including Zuko SA, Temple Boys CPT, Teddy James III, and Kwiish SA.
Antos Stella, CEO of Arena Holdings, the parent company of both Gallo and CCA, said, “At The Music Arena, our passion is to champion African music and its creators.
This partnership between Virgin Music, Gallo Music and Content Connect Africa embodies the power of collaboration and partnership, uniting global reach with local authenticity.”
The partnership will facilitate strategic collaborations between African and international artists while leveraging Virgin Music Group’s audience analytics and market insights for territory-specific campaigns.
The deal extension continues as the African recorded music market shows growth, with IFPI reporting 22.6% revenue growth in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.
