EXCLUSIVE Interview with Cedric Singleton, CEO Black Market Records

For decades the Uganda music lovers were big time fans of foreign music, that included Congolese Lingala Music, South African afro pop Music, Jamaican dancehall and of course the American Hip Hop and RnB music. From 2000 there was a revolution in the Uganda Music industry with the rise of then Young men and women, the likes of Bobi Wine, Dr Jose Chameleon, Bebe Cool, Juliana Kanyomozi, Steve Jean and so many more.

It was so rare to find a Ugandan youth listening to Ugandan music, but consistence has been a reason for success because talent has always been here, its believed that Uganda has more talent in terms of music than any other country in East Africa.

The raise of Ugandan artists has not been an absolute solution for the industry and the Uganda music lovers, we have continued to face stiff competition from the Nigerian fastest growing music industry, several reasons have contributed to the Ugandan music industry losing the war to Nigerians which include poor production, limited resources, and some lazy elements in the industry who are not working had to produce quality work but they copy and paste from Nigerians and Jamaicans. We have continued to see Nigerian music flooding our industry and also Nigerian musicians having more Ugandan fans than our own artists.

Anyway enough with chit chat, let me take you to the reason I am driving you through all this history. Because of the many challenges in the industry despite the many talented artists that we have, great people like CEDRIC SINGLETON the CEO of Black Market Records have come in to help.

We decided to have a conversation with the owner of one of America’s music record label which started way back in 1989. A bit of who Cedric is and what Black Market Records carries right now, Cedric is the overall man, or you can call him the main man behind this international Record label, he started black market label in his bedroom, they started as a hip hop record label, Cedric is overseeing the operation of Black Market Records globally, they have artists in several countries in Europe, several in South America, and about 9 to 10 countries in Africa. In East Africa they have artists in Kenya which is their headquarter in East Africa, they have artists in Uganda and now targeting Tanzania.

Cedric has been in Uganda for now three months, he came to see how Black Market Records was doing and meet the artists, like I told him “I am glad COVID19 lockdown got you here” we got a chance to interact with him.

Among the details he shared with us, he got into the Uganda Music industry through Selector Jay on instagram, Selector Jay recommended Daddy Andre who was later signed under Black Market Records two years ago, After being signed Daddy Andre recorded “You and Me” with Lydia Jasmine which has been a big time hit since then. Cedric comes to Uganda 3 to 4 times a year to further push Black Market Records agenda.

When asked about how much work Black Market Records has done in Uganda, Cedric mentioned the success of Daddy Andre who has recorded great success under the record label, including winning song of the year award 2018, song of the year 2019, nominated for over 37 music awards, “his house is full of awards” he said, he also added that they have done 30 videos, they have also signed about 7 to 9 artists here in Uganda including the latest signing which is Bruno K Ug. Among the artists they are working with include Able Peace, UgaBoy, Kevan, Junior Gentle and also Selector Jay, Deejay Hub. They also have a model studio in partnership with Bombac music, they just had a successful online show with all the artists they have signed.

When asked about why black market records is in Uganda, Cedric says they are here to mould the Uganda music industry, to help the Uganda music artists benefit from their music, to be able to sell their music in Europe, US, and all over the world, to see how Uganda music can be accessed in 195 countries. According to Cedric he does not look at the music market in terms of Uganda only but the globe, because black market records is marketing music in the whole world.

Cedric also shared with us how they select the artists that they support, he says they have a team that is contacted with music from artists, they work with any artist but they also consider how an artist is performing on social media, they check the influence of the artist, they need artists who have something to show, artists who are hardworking.

What do you want to see in Uganda in the next years? I asked him, Black markets records seeks to see their artists doing well in the industry, with enough knowledge about the industry and good seles

He shared with us what their major plans are for the artists they have signed up in Uganda, according to Cedric they want to offer high quality videos for the artists and give publicity to their music for better sales.