Sipho Dlamini is President, Africa & Middle East at gamma, a music company founded by Larry Jackson, the US-based A&R impresario, and a former Global Creative Director at Apple.
He joined gamma in May 2023.
Dlamini is the former CEO of Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. He joined UMG in 2016.
Dlamini is credited for his help with expanding the reach of Afrobeats via inclusion on global streaming playlists.
Sipho Dlamini: Career History
Sipho Dlamini started his career in the music industry in the late 1990s as a UK concert and club promoter for African artists.
Come 2006, Dlamini was the Vice President of Operations at Dubai Events Co., where he coordinated all of the company’s events and strategies.
Dlamini remained with Dubai Events until 2010, when he founded International Artist & Asset Management. He only kept his asset management business active for about a year before taking a position at the Southern African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO).
SAMRO is Africa’s leading copyright management society that aims to protect music IP via licensing and royalty collection. Dlamini served as their General Manager of Marketing, Communications, & Business Development.
As a GM, Dlamini helped create content to convince more African artists to join the SAMRO copyright society. He was also important in strategizing both the short and long-term plan for SAMRO, including expanding into other rights and offering society members additional services.
After a year-and-a-half into his managerial role, SAMRO announced that Dlamini would become their CEO.
Dlamini primarily had to ensure smooth operation of SAMRO’s performance royalty collection and distribution practices, as well as SAMRO’s funding and support of music and arts education through the SAMRO Foundation.
Dlamini left SAMRO in 2016, joining Universal Music Group and ultimately being appointed the CEO of South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa.
During his tenure with UMG, the company expanded their operations in Africa to include such legendary brands as Def Jam Africa, Blue Note Records Africa, and a plethora of additional local labels and affiliates.Music Business Worldwide