Vee pockets half a million from deal with ViB Mobile

Local house kwasa sensation and soon to be Africa’s hottest artist seems to be doing something right when it comes to his musical career and this week he was all smiles and grinning from ear to ear.

The artist in question is none other than Odirile Vee Sento and it appears that he has a magic touch. Whatever he touches turns to gold as evidenced by his success rate. The latest development is that he and local company, ViB Mobile have signed a historic deal that is tipped to be one of the biggest digital music distribution deals in Botswana. It comes with a whopping half a million pula.

The deal gives ViB Mobile exclusive digital distribution rights in Botswana to Vee’s upcoming album that is set for release this year. Through the deal, the album will be available on all three local mobile networks - Orange Botswana, Mascom and beMOBILE.

A release from ViB Mobile explains that the anticipated album that promises to sky rocket the brand of Vee in the continent will feature celebrated artists that include Jah Praizh, Casper Nyovest, Khuli Chana, Professor, Dj Tira and Naak Musiq, Dj Maphorisa and DJ Bucks (UHURU), Trademark, African Roots, to mention a few.

Speaking from South Africa with this publication, Vee said that the deal means a lot for a local company. It is even more special as the company has done something that other local companies have been unable to do, when it comes to supporting the music industry. “I am very proud of what ViB Mobile has been able to do. It is not every company that will have this much faith in the local music scene,” he said. He is equally excited at the opportunities that this deal will bring.

“It gives me power to work hard and put my all into the album. Now I need to make sure that everything regarding the album is right,” he said.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of ViB Mobile, Leroy Monaheng, the deal came about after the realisation that Vee was leading the pack when it comes to downloading caller tunes and ringtones. They sat down with him and mapped a mutually beneficial deal that has given birth to the exciting news.

He said that what they are doing with Vee is in line with what his company is trying to do regarding empowering him and other local artists. “We are hoping for the best regarding this deal and other similar deals. This deal will push local artists to work hard,” he said, adding that they are open to the possibilities of working with artists long before the album is released in order to see how they can assist each other.

Besides Vee, ViB Mobile also worked with most of the top-selling artists in the country including DJ Oats, Culture Spears, MMP Family, Lizibo and Shumba Ratshega. A press release explains that ViB Mobile has pioneered initiatives to make local music easily accessible through digital channels, and that this joint venture with Vee is a huge step in achieving that objective. It also says that between April 2015 and February 2016, ViB Mobile awarded local artistes royalties of around P400, 000.00.

“As the highest selling artist, Vee has led the pack, accumulating over a hundred thousand pula from these digital downloads,” it says. ViB Mobile’s ringtone products and services include Monophonic and Polyphonic Tones, True/MP3 Tones, Full Track Music and Caller Ringback Tunes (CRBT) and are distributed on all the local Mobile Network Operators.