EMPIRE Publishing, the publishing division of independent music company EMPIRE, has launched operations in Africa and named Munyaradzi Chanetsa as Managing Director of its new African division.
The move marks the first dedicated publishing presence for EMPIRE on the continent. Chanetsa, who is of South African descent, will oversee publishing activities across Africa from the division’s base, with a focus on intellectual property ownership, signing songwriters and producers, building catalogues, and improving transparency and revenue collection for creators. This move, according to Chanetsa, highlights why he stayed committed to publishing all these years.
In a statement to BusinessDay, Chanetsa said the current structure of the African music business presents a major opportunity. “African music is not ‘up next’ anymore. We are shaping global culture in real time,” he said. “We need systems that protect our songwriters and producers, make sure they understand their rights, and ensure they access every revenue stream their work deserves.”
He added that EMPIRE Publishing will invest in infrastructure, education, and systems to help African creators compete globally while retaining ownership of their intellectual property.
The Africa expansion coincides with the promotion of Vinny Kumar to President of EMPIRE Publishing. Kumar, previously a senior executive in the division, will now oversee all global publishing operations from the company’s headquarters in San Francisco.
Under Kumar’s leadership, EMPIRE Publishing has grown into one of the top independent music publishers. In 2024, it entered Billboard’s Hot 100 Publishers ranking in the Top 10 for the first time. The division represents songwriters across multiple genres, including Afrobeats, R&B, country, rock, electronic, K-pop, and Latin music. Its roster includes Fireboy DML, Billy Ray Cyrus, Travis Greene, KEM, Juhn, Yung Lan, and a joint venture with producer Hit-Boy.
EMPIRE stated that its publishing clients have earned multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations, as well as recognition at the ASCAP Pop, Country, and Rhythm & Soul Awards, BMI R&B/Hip-Hop, Country, and Gospel Awards, and numerous Gold and Platinum certifications from the NMPA.
Commenting on his promotion, Kumar said: “Over the past few years, EMPIRE Publishing has evolved into one of the most dynamic independent publishers in the world, expanding its global footprint and delivering chart-topping success. I’m honored to lead this next chapter as we continue building for our writers, producers, and partners worldwide.”
The publishing expansion follows EMPIRE’s broader push into Africa. The company launched EMPIRE Africa in February 2022 to support its recording artists in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and the Ivory Coast. EMPIRE has also entered other international markets, including Asia—where it signed Korean artist G-Dragon—and the Nordic region.
Founded in 2010 by Ghazi, EMPIRE operates as an independent distributor, label, and publisher. In September, it partnered with artist Shaboozey to launch the independent record label American Dogwood.
