Your Next Stage is Calling

From national festival stages to international residencies, these opportunities are about expanding your reach. Don't self-censor—your work deserves to be seen and heard on a global stage.

• National Arts Festival (NAF) 2026 Fringe: The open-access platform for any artist to showcase their work at Africa's biggest arts festival. A critical rite of passage. Apply Here →
• Trenčín 2026 (Slovakia): Tren-air Residency - An incredible opportunity for artists to live, work, and collaborate in Europe. Explore the Residency →
• Culture Moves Europe: Call for Individual Mobility - Funding support for artists and cultural professionals to travel within Europe for professional development. Get Mobility Grant Details →

Owning Your Masters vs. Signing a Record Deal

This is the most critical decision in your music career. A "master" is the copyright to the final sound recording—the asset that generates money from streams and sales. Who owns it determines who gets paid.

• The Indie Route (You Own 100%): You have total creative control and keep the lion's share of the revenue (80-100%). This is the path to long-term wealth, but it means you fund everything yourself and act as the CEO of your own career.
• The Traditional Deal (The Label Owns it): The label gives you a budget (an "advance") and marketing muscle. In return, they own your master recordings forever and you only receive a small royalty percentage (12-18%) after they have recouped their entire investment from your share.

Before you even think about deals, get your business in order. Properly documenting who wrote what percentage of a song is non-negotiable. Read our free Split Sheet guide to learn how →

The Modern Toolkit: From LaaS to D2C

The new music economy gives the artist more power than ever before. While major streaming platforms are part of the ecosystem, their compensation models don't always favor emerging artists. The real game-changer is building your own platform and fostering a direct-to-consumer (D2C) relationship with your audience. To get there, you need professional support without giving up your rights.

As pioneers of the "Label as a Service" (LaaS) model in the Eastern Cape, we provide the tools to build your independent career, bridging the gap to a successful D2C business.

• Digital Distribution: This is your entry ticket. For a small flat fee, we get your music delivered to every major digital store and streaming platform worldwide, ensuring your music is available everywhere your potential fans are.
• Playlist Pitching Campaign: Beyond just uploading, this service involves our team professionally crafting a narrative and submitting your track to key playlist curators at platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, both in Africa and globally. It’s about getting heard in a crowded market.
• Website & E-Shop Development: This is the ultimate D2C tool. We build you a stunning, professional website that acts as your central hub. It's your digital homebase where you can sell music, merchandise, and tickets directly to your fans, build your email list, and own your audience data—keeping 100% of the revenue.

This is about partnership, not ownership. Explore our services or book a free strategy call to find out how we can build your career together, on your terms.

Studio Insights: A Q&A with Bonke Bunu

We go behind the glass with Bonke Bunu, the seasoned sound engineer behind Zonke Bonke Productions and the newest partner in our BANG Collective. With over two decades of experience, he shares invaluable, no-nonsense advice on what it takes for an independent artist to achieve a professional sound, the common mistakes to avoid in the studio, and why talent will always come first.

Read our full, in-depth interview →