About Us

Just Music is South Africa's leading independent music company and the home of some of the world's leading independent labels: Beggars Group (including XL, Matador, Rough Trade and 4AD), Mute, Domino, Ninja Tune, Ministry of Sound, Spinnin, Hed Kandi, Dramatico, Hidden Beach Recordings, Time SPA to name but a few.

Just Music is also the South African home of the following key international artists: Adele, Aloe Blacc, Caro Emerald, Arctic Monkeys, The xx, Two Door Cinema Club, The Kills, Anna Calvi, Bon Iver, Friendly Fires, Fitz & the Tantrums, Tyler The Creator, Dizzee Rascal, Asa, Robyn, Faithless, Dave Matthews Band, Rodrigo Y Gabriela Kele, Jill Scott, Katie Melua, Brooke Fraser, Santigold, M.I.A., Interpol, The National, The Horrors, Basement Jaxx, Vampire Weekend, Fink, Mos Def, Axwell, Chicane, Above & Beyond, Wretch 32, Example, Inna, Edward Maya, Alexandra Stan, Bob Sinclar, Kaskade, Martin Solveig, Roger Sanchez, Tim Berg, Eric Prydz & Duck Sauce to name but a few.

The company was started by its current owner, Karl Anderson in June 2003. Karl who has held executive positions at both Gallo Record Company as Marketing Director (RPM during 1991 - 1997) and A&R/Marketing Director at EMI South Africa (1997 - 2003), left his executive position in 2003 to follow his passion for growing the independent music scene and creating a brand that is associated with great music, artist development, great business ethics and consistent professional service to its labels, artists, media, retailers and consumers.

Just Music's South African artists have won 9 SAMA Awards (SA Grammys) over the past 5 years. In 2011 Just Music received a record 9 nominations for Locnville, Flash Republic, Yoav & Zebra & Giraffe. The Just Music SAMA Award winners to date include: Locnville for Best Selling Album & Best Newcomer, Yoav for Best Alternative Album, Zebra & Giraffe for Best Rock Album, Dear Reader for Best Adult Contemporary Album, Blk Jks for Best Alternative Album, Harris Tweed for Best DVD, Karen Zoid for Best Female Artist and Lark for Best Alternative Album.

Now in its 9th year of operation, Just Music is widely recognized by the international music industry as South Africa's leading independent label. Through consistently delivering on its core vision of great music, great business ethic and consistent professional service, Just Music has managed to achieve phenomenal success in this short time.

The success stories include the #1 Double Platinum success of Adele's 21 album which has sold over 90 000 copies in the 1st six months of release, the #1 Multi-Platinum sales success of Katie Melua who has sold over 230 000 albums in South Africa over the past six years, the representation of some of South Africa's most successful & most respected, by both the media and retailers, domestic artists which include star acts like 2010's biggest new act Locnville (over 75 000 units sold in SA), Flash Republic (various single licenses across Europe with key independents) and Dear Reader (formerly Harris Tweed and now signed to City Slang for the world excluding South Africa).

Just Music has also broken various unknown (at the time of release) international & South African acts in South Africa over the past 5 years including Marcos Hernandez, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Adele, Asa, Locnville and Katie Melua and re-established the career of Chris de Burgh with his album 'Footsteps' which was a #1 album, reached Gold status & produced a sold out national tour, his first success in South Africa in over 15 years.

Just Music has successfully re-launched the Ministry of Sound brand here in South Africa over the past few years and since acquiring the label has managed to sell over 250 000 albums and achieve 3 consecutive gold & Top 10 albums for The Annual compilation series.

Just Music consistently enjoys a strong retail presence given our great working relationships with all of the key players at Musica and Look & Listen and regularly featured on both their album charts and in all of their co-op marketing and promotional campaigns. In early 2010, Just Music's new South African act, Locnville, broke all records when they entered the Musica charts in the Top 5 during the week of release and remained in the Top 10 for over 6 months selling over 70 000 albums in the process making them the biggest debut South African act of 2010.

Just Music has great working relationships with all of South Africa's key concert promoters including Big Concerts and have successfully secured various support slot performances for our South African artists: Blk Jks (30 Seconds To Mars Tour), Zebra & Giraffe (The Killers, Snow Patrol & Oasis), Locnville (Enrique), Yoav (Imogen Heap) to name just a few.

On the back of these relationships Just Music also ventured into the world of concert promotion in 2010 staging Locnville's South African Arena Tour which resulted in over 11 500 ticket sales, box office takings in excess of R1.3 million and two sold out shows at Carnival City in Johannesburg and Grand West in Cape Town.

Just Music's ability to find and sign the hottest new talent and biggest hits from the world's leading independent labels and key local and international artists, is evident from in the high rotation enjoyed on South African radio airwaves both on national and regional stations. Just Music is the leading independent label when it comes to airplay on all major broadcasters.

Just Music provides a multitude of licensing opportunities through it vast catalogue. Just Music has secured major sync deals for the following artists: Locnville (Supersport/EA Games/Sony Playstation & MTN), Carla Bruni (Dentyne), Dr Alban & Dr Victor feat Cantona & SASH! (Supersport World Cup Theme Song), Flash Republic (Edgars), Duck Sauce (Appletiser) and Martin Solveig (Telkom Mobile).

As a result of Just Music's strong presence on South African radio (national and regional) the business consistently generates strong 3rd party income through 3rd party licensing including placements on the No.1 selling NOW brand. Just Music also contributes the lion's share of 3rd party repertoire to South Africa's biggest dance albums being Booom, Bump, Club Anthems, Sasha's Essential Hits and House Anthems. We also enjoy a very strong presence on all South African hits based compilations given our strong SA music catalogue. Just Music also released the #1 dance album for the past two Christmas' with our 94 Hits In A Row album (in conjunction with KFM and 94.7 Highveld Stereo) reaching #1 on the charts and selling over 70 000 copies so far.

Not only has Just Music proven itself in the physical product space, but Just Music is also the only independent label in South Africa to have a direct worldwide deal with iTunes and eMusic for digital exploitation. In South Africa Just Music has secured digital deals with the likes of Cylo, Exact, Rhythm Online & Look & Listen's MP3 store.