SA: JR launches DIY mobile distribution app for artists

The company says the app will be available in South Africa on iOS and Android on 1 June, before expanding to other countries in East and West Africa. FYVE will allow musicians to upload their music directly from their smartphones, avoiding the admin required by typical web-based aggregators or label services.

The service will distribute music to 39 digital service providers (DSPs) globally, including major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer. “It takes less than four minutes to distribute your music,” FYVE says.

“The launch of FYVE is a big disruptive turning point in the African music landscape, allowing every artist to distribute music from their cellphones,” Bogopa, who is the platform’s CEO, said. “For too long many companies have put a high barrier to entry for the up-and-coming independent artist. Our unique pay-as-you-go service, along with our revolutionary tech, will allow us to literally put the power back into the hands of the creator – financially and creatively.”

FYVE managing director Sizwe Hlongwane said: “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us and FYVE believes all creatives should identify themselves as technologically savvy. FYVE is a leading player in introducing innovation and technology to African creatives. Delivering cutting-edge, accessible high tech to the man on the street, FYVE’s vision is to reduce the digital gap between creatives and technology.”

The app will provide insights about playlist engagement and the demographics and location of listeners, among other information. Another big feature is that the app enables users to edit their releases after they have been uploaded to streaming platforms, which is not possible with most other distributors. “If users spell a song name wrong or put up the wrong artwork, you can fix those errors while your song is live in stores,” FYVE said.

Additionally, there is an option to send music to radio stations to be considered for playlisting. The platform will also pitch playlists and ringback tones, which can offer lucrative revenue streams to artists. The app pays users in foreign currency, and local users can choose to get paid directly into their bank account or e-wallet instead of PayPal.