Warner Music Group announces partnership with Small World Records

22 November 2023 - Press release

 

Warner Music Group (WMG) has today announced a new partnership with Small World Records, the label and publisher founded by renowned music entrepreneur and culture and streetwear connoisseur, SmallGod. 

The new deal will see Small World Records collaborate worldwide with teams from Warner Music, ADA and Warner Chappell Music, to help propel Small World's roster of talented artists and writers to a global audience. The partnership will also see both companies discover, nurture, and amplify a new generation of African musical talent.

SmallGod will continue to lead Small World's operations and use his unrivalled connections in the African music scene and his expertise in marketing, promotion and A&R to help drive the label forward, with added support from WMG.

SmallGod's two collaboration albums, Building Bridges (2021) and Connecting The Dots (2022), showcased his innate ability to fuse traditional African music with a new modern-day sound and connect African music with the diaspora worldwide. Through these projects, he has worked with major artists such as 2Baba, Black Sherif, Busiswa, Darkoo, DJ Tunez, Djz, Headie One, KiDi, Major League, NSG, Oxlade, Tiwa Savage, Vic Mensa, and more.

The first release under the new partnership will be SmallGod and Black Sherif’s ‘Fallen Angel’.

SmallGod said: "Our mission at Small World Records is to amplify the voices of Africa and its diaspora. This resounding partnership with Warner Music Group will help deliver this mission by empowering emerging African artists, breaking boundaries, and resonating across continents. Together, we aim to compose a symphony of boundless diversity, innovation, and passion, uniting cultures through the universal language of music with the core being from Africa."

Max Lousada, CEO of Recorded Music, Warner Music Group, added: "At Warner Music, we want to be at the forefront of culture and partner with the industry's brightest and most innovative minds. SmallGod is a brilliant tastemaker, marketeer and visionary, and working with him will allow us to champion the incredible African talent he discovers. We will work with his artists to give them the support and services they need to break onto the world stage."

Shani Gonzales, Managing Director, Warner Chappell Music UK, said: "Over the last few years, Warner Chappell Music UK has become a real hub for amazing African music and artists. This new deal with Small World will give us even more access to the phenomenal talent coming through. Working alongside SmallGod, we can put these up-and-coming writers and artists in rooms with some of the world's biggest stars."

Trenton Harrison-Lewis, SVP Artist and Label Development, ADA and Warner Music UK, concluded: "At ADA, we pride ourselves on giving a world-class service to dynamic independent labels. Working with SmallGod, and his team on the Small World roster, we will be able to connect their artists with a global audience and help them further grow their sound and international presence. I'm excited to develop our partnership as we make and promote amazing music."

SmallGod's first venture into the music industry was through the Ghanaian nightclub Basement, which he ran from 2003. Through the club, he built relationships with many artists and started managing Ghanaian Reggae act Black Prophet before signing Ghanaian rapper J-Town. He later managed Wavy The Creator and Eugy Official.

He then launched and ran his own independent record label and publishing company, Nasecworld, before the launch of Small World Records.

SmallGod is also a fashion enthusiast and has collaborated with local and diaspora fashion brands like FREE THE YOUTH, Daily Paper, FILLING PIECES, STEELO, area boys, BIKERZ SUNDAYS, THE NEW ORIGINALS and Xpltcstudio.

It was recently announced that SmallGod has opened his first studio facilities, SmallWorld Studios, in Accra, Ghana.