Streaming service launched in Cape Verde

Muska is a payed streaming service available as a mobile app for both Android and iOS users. The service will provide premium music content. It also plans to roll out live streaming and video content. It is currently available in Cape Verde only but there are plans to expand to the DRC, Angola, Mozambique and Uganda. Billing for the service is done through Angolan telco Unitel.

“The aim is that it works well with telcos so that we can offer a premium platform to their subscribers. It needs to be the best offer for users and reasonable for us, telcos and the content providers,” Moupondo said.

Muska will offer a catalogue of 10 million songs of which 70% will be in Portuguese to cater for the Cape Verdean market and to support local artists.

“We’re working directly with the majors, independents, local labels and distributors. The Portuguese content will draw people in and then they will discover international content. We’re bringing both on one application. Some of the music platforms – like Spotify and Deezer – don’t have that much local content so they won’t work well in Africa,” Moupondo said.

Muska will cost users an average of 500 escudos (€5) but prices will differ in each region.

“There’s a minimum we won’t go beyond, somewhere between €2.50 to €5 depending on the territory. We might be able to go over €5 in North Africa but not in sub-Saharan Africa," Moupondo said, adding that Muska will try to penetrate the African streaming market by taking advantage of increasing Internet usage on the continent.

“In three years’ time, I believe we will have 1 million subscribers. I hope it will happen earlier but Africa is a tough continent. The potential is there. For example, in DRC there are about 2 million people using the Internet, largely on smartphones. Those are the people we are targeting directly.

“In five to 10 years’ time, we’d like to be the biggest African music streaming application. Obviously, there are hundreds of apps trying to do the same and it will depend on the networks, finance and strategy,” Moupondo said.