Zimbabwean music executive Munyaradzi Chanetsa has been appointed Managing Director of EMPIRE Publishing Africa, marking a major milestone in the company’s strategic expansion across the continent.
The move comes as part of EMPIRE Publishing’s broader global growth drive, which also sees Vinny Kumar promoted to President of EMPIRE Publishing, extending his leadership over all international operations from the company’s headquarters in San Francisco.
Founded in 2010 by Ghazi, EMPIRE has evolved into one of the most influential independent music companies in the world. Its publishing arm represents a diverse catalogue spanning Afrobeats, R&B, country, K-pop, Latin, and electronic genres, with top names including Billy Ray Cyrus, Travis Greene, Fireboy DML, and Hit-Boy.
EMPIRE Publishing recently entered the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 Publisher Rankings for the first time in 2024, underlining its growing global footprint.
Commenting on the developments, Kumar said he was honoured to lead the next chapter of EMPIRE Publishing’s evolution.
“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 fostering a team that truly embodies our culture,” he said.
“I’m honoured to lead this next chapter as we continue building for our writers, producers, and partners worldwide.”
EMPIRE Founder and CEO Ghazi praised Kumar’s leadership and vision, saying:
“Vinny has been instrumental in building EMPIRE Publishing into a global force, and there is no better person to lead the team. We met nearly two decades ago, and he has been part of the foundation of what this company stands for.”
The creation of EMPIRE Publishing Africa, led by Chanetsa, marks a significant milestone for the company’s African ambitions. EMPIRE first launched its Africa division in February 2022, supporting artists in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Ivory Coast, and has since expanded into Asia and the Nordic region.
Chanetsa’s appointment is expected to strengthen EMPIRE’s footprint on the continent by promoting African songwriting, production, and publishing partnerships.
Elsewhere, EMPIRE has recently made several global investments including partnerships with Shaboozey to form the independent record label American Dogwood, and with Cambodian label Baramey Production to promote Southeast Asian artists globally. In February, EMPIRE also made a strategic investment in artist marketing platform un:hurd.
