South Africa-based independent publishing house Sheer Publishing is expanding north – launching the first two of a planned roll-out of offices across Africa.

The 17-year-old company has helped a network of independent sub-publishers. Achievements include giving South African writers the chance to secure spots in independent films likes of District 9 and Tsotsi.

Sheer West Africa, based out of Ghana, is already servicing Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Ghana. Sheer East Africa, based out of Kenya is the second country to gain the benefit of company’s leading intellectual capital.

“It’s early days yet,” says Sheer founder David Alexander, “and already we’re signing writers from these countries and actively promoting their works for synchronisation in foreign films and television shows around the world.

“Our aim is to do more deals for songwriters in this way where their music talks to a global market, not only their own,” he adds.

A partnership has also been signed with local record label The Music Industry, who will soon release a compilation, titled Ghana Awake Vol.1, consisting of Sheer Publishing-signed writers.

Neighbouring Ethiopia and Rwanda are also being targeted by Sheer for expansion, along with a partnership with Lolhiphop Records, a label representing artists from Cameroon.

“While we hope the album will sell well for the label, we also have an arrangement in place to purchase a number of these CDs for distribution to our sub-publishers, as well as film and television music supervisors, for syndication consideration in their own territories. I haven’t been this excited in years,” said Alexander.

“The continent has been ignored by the rest of the world,” he added. “Sheer Publishing looks to change that by taking the rich cultural heritage out of Africa and expose it, commercially, to the rest of the world. Artists and writers with complete songs or recordings can now, through us, take their music to neighbouring countries, throughout the continent, and beyond.”

Source: http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1048342