21 Apr
Blog

Music Publishing & Rights Assistant​

 Jaalolu – Protecting Music. Empowering Creators.

About Jaalolu

Jaalolu is built on a simple but powerful belief: creators deserve to be paid, protected, and respected.

We work at the intersection of music publishing, rights management, and education, helping artists and rights holders, particularly across emerging markets, understand their value and collect what they are owed globally.

This is not just a back-office role. This is about impact.

The Role

We are looking for a Music Publishing & Rights Assistant who understands that behind every data entry is a creator waiting to be paid.

You will play a key role in ensuring songs are properly registered, metadata is accurate, and rights are clearly defined so royalties don’t get lost.

If you are detail-driven, curious about the global music business, and care about fairness in the industry, this role is for you.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

1. Registering Works Globally

      • Register songs and compositions with key collection societies, including PRS for Music, IMRO, MCPS, PPL, SoundExchange, and The MLC
      • Ensure every registration is accurate, complete, and submitted on time
      • Track submissions and follow up on any issues or rejections

2. Owning the Data (Metadata = Money)

Maintain accurate records of:

      • Song splits and ownership percentages
      • Writer/composer information
      • Publisher and rights holder details
      • Ensure metadata meets global standards (ISRC, ISWC, IPI)
      • Continuously audit and improve catalogue data quality

3. Supporting Rights Protection

      • Assist in identifying and resolving ownership conflicts or disputes
      • Support investigations into mismatched or missing data
      • Work closely with the team to protect client rights and revenue

4. Release & Distribution Support

      • Help prepare music releases for distribution
      • Ensure all rights, ownership, and metadata are aligned before release
      • Work alongside the team to avoid errors that lead to lost royalties

5. Keeping the System Clean

      • Organise and maintain publishing records and internal systems
      • Support catalogue audits and data clean-ups
      • Help build efficient workflows as Jaalolu scales

What We’re Looking For

Core Requirements

      • Strong interest in music publishing, rights, and royalties
      • High attention to detail (this is non-negotiable)
      • Organised, reliable, and comfortable working with data
      • Ability to learn systems and processes quickly
      • Strong communication and problem-solving mindset

Bonus (But Valuable)

      • Familiarity with collection societies like PRS for Music or international equivalents
      • Understanding of publishing income streams (performance, mechanical, neighbouring rights)
      • Experience with metadata, spreadsheets, or music platforms

Why This Role Matters at Jaalolu

Most artists are not losing because they lack talent. They are losing because their rights are not properly managed. Every accurate registration, every corrected split, and every clean metadata entry directly impacts whether someone gets paid or not. That’s the responsibility of this role.

Who Is This Role For?

This role is for someone who:

      • Wants to build a career in music publishing and rights management
      • Believes in fairness and transparency in the music industry
      • Is comfortable doing detailed, behind-the-scenes work that creates real impact
      • Is ready to grow with a mission-driven company

At Jaalolu, we are not just managing data; we are building infrastructure to help creators win.

If that resonates with you, we want to hear from you.

Send us an email info@jaalolu.com and someone from our team will be in touch.

03 Sep
Artist News, Blog

Jaalolu Is Proud To Present Our Official Playlists

Jaalolu is proud to present our official playlists highlighting the best of our roster of independent African artists. “Jaalolu Presents” is a collection of artist-specific playlists, showcasing the range and talent of artists such as our versatile new-school vocalists such as Hussain Dada and Mariam Jobe, as well as the best of traditional music by legends such as Tatadindin Jobarteh and Jaliba Kuyateh.

Our “The Best of Jaalolu” playlist includes the most popular songs by our artists; you can find tracks such as “IGBO PIANO” by Nigerian-born, Gambian-based artist and producer Endi, who fuses sounds from all over the continent. This track is highly influenced by traditional Igbo music from communities based in Southeastern Nigeria, as well as Amapiano, a South African genre of House music, just like ‘Big Drip’ by our artist Hussain Dada.

While now commonly associated with Amapiano, the characteristic log drum, an expressive percussion instrument consisting of hollow wood or bamboo, actually originally comes from West African regions such as The Gambia. It was traditionally used to communicate across long distances, often in valleys or along rivers, where the sound could travel with ease. It was then adopted into South African Amapiano and now artists across West Africa from Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana and more are using Amapiano-style instrumentals with their own twist. The log drum is a perfect example of musical exchange between different African regions.

Our series of tailor-made genre-specific playlists – “Jaalolu Curates” – are a vital introduction to the diversity of Gambian music. “Kora Music with Jaalolu” highlights our truly unique roster of Gambian Kora artists. The Kora, often also known as the “African Harp“, is a West African string instrument known for its dreamy polyrhythmic melody patterns and elaborate improvisations by highly skilled players. The instrument was first discovered in The Gambia and has cultural ties to historians and storytellers, becoming an important facet of oral storytelling.

The late Tatadindin Jobarteh is one of the most important Kora players of all time, whose music we can access on streaming platforms thanks to Jaalolu. He began learning the Kora at only 5 years old and my personal favourites of his you can find on the playlist include ‘Jamba Fatty’ and ‘Kano’ interlaced with dreamy harmonies and melodies in conversation with another and, of course, Tatadindin’s cascading vocals that flow like water.

Jaliba Kuyateh, a member of the respected Kuyateh Griot family, has become the “King of Kora”, blending traditional kora sounds with modern popular music. Spellbinding tracks like ‘Itele Tamunti’ and ‘Ousman Sawaneh’ can be found on our playlist, showcasing his unique genre hybridity. Papa J Jammeh is also a key example of an oral storyteller who weaves music and story into one, creating vivid, immersive soundscapes intertwined with speech, melody and ambient sounds. In our Kora music playlist, you can find his tracks like ‘Gratitude’ and ‘Miniamba’; the playlist is the perfect soundtrack for a relaxed, regenerative morning.

“Gambian Rap with Jaalolu”, on the other hand, highlights the best of high energy rap from the region from artists Chroniko, Hussain Dada, Popular (Mr Zoom Zoom) and Coke Bwoy. Listen to rap subgenres like Drill in songs like ‘Luwoooo’ by Chroniko, ‘Sanji Jelu’ by Hussain Dada and ‘I Am Blessed’ by Mr Zoom Zoom. Conscious Rap with strong political messaging can also be heard in tracks like ‘Louder,’ where Dada sends an empowered message to the youth. This lively, flow-heavy playlist is perfect for the days you need passion and energy to keep going!

Finally, the soulful and joyful tracks of our “Gambian Afrobeats with Jaalolu” feature the three aforementioned rap artists showing their genre versatility alongside the talented vocalists Jally Naya, Endi and Maryama Cham. This playlist is perfect for dancing with a smile on your face; Afrobeats has brought joyful movement to people across the planet, especially in the last few years, and Gambian Afrobeats is no exception. Furthermore, “Presenting The Bunkas” is the perfect playlist for the diaspora, laced with tracks from love songs to simply reminiscing about the olden days.

It is clear that African music is much more than entertainment. It is a medium of storytelling, connection, communication, celebration and socio-political commentary. Maryama Cham and Mariam Jobe, for example, are some of our most captivating artists actively speaking out and campaigning against FGM and gender-based violence, blending art with social purpose. Take a listen to “Presenting: Mariam Jobe”; her music is a testament to her Griot heritage, weaving stories of love, friendship, and social commentary into infectious soul-stirring melodies.

Here at Jaalolu, we are proud to bring more African music by independent artists changing the face of music to your streaming platforms

Sharleen has carefully curated some exciting playlists on behalf of Jaalolu. Sharleen works across music journalism, marketing, communications, and A&R. As a freelance creative, she has worked with brands such as Reebok, Red Bull, and the Empty Club. She is especially passionate about empowering African and Latin American musicians and creatives. As a DJ she has supported artists such as Jeleel and Darkoo for their “Rhude Gyal” single activation and the Cavemen for their “Cavy in the City” album listening event. Her experience spans event curation, playlisting, DJing, radio, sound design, and social media management.
 

During her time working with Jaalolu, she has curated and managed 18+ artist and genre-specific playlists, as well as designing visual assets (social media content, playlist covers), including album and single release promotional material. She has enjoyed the opportunity to champion African artists and learn more about the diversity of modern and traditional Gambian music during her time at Jaalolu.

She is a First-Class Graduate with a BA in Modern and Medieval Languages (Spanish, German and Portuguese) from the University of Cambridge. She uses the multilingual skills acquired throughout her degree, as well her experience studying Music Production and Sound Design during her Year Abroad in Medellin, Colombia, to connect with music and artists across borders.

Sharleen
Jalimadi
19 Aug
Artist News, Blog

Protecting Legacy: Jaalolu Signs Jalimadi to Strengthen Gambian Music Publishing and Global Royalties

Jaalolu is proud to officially welcome Jali Madi Kanuteh, affectionately known as Jalimadi into the Jaalolu family. A true griot of our time and one of The Gambia’s most celebrated voices, Jalimadi’s catalogue now finds a new home with us, marking the beginning of an inspiring collaboration rooted in culture, creativity, and global ambition.

As a descendant of the legendary Kanuteh family, Jalimadi has long been recognized for carrying forward the Mandinka griot tradition while shaping it into something fresh, soulful, and contemporary. His music bridges the past and the present, blending the depth of Gambian heritage with sounds that resonate across borders. With more than six albums, countless hit singles, and performances on global stages, Jalimadi represents the very essence of Gambian artistry in motion.

Speaking on the partnership, Jalimadi shared:
“For me, music is not just sound, it is history, culture, and responsibility. Joining Jaalolu means having a partner that understands where I come from and where I want to go. I am excited about this new journey and the opportunities it will bring, not only for me but for Gambian music as a whole.”

At Jaalolu, we believe in more than just music distribution, we are a creative music business built on cultural legacy, artist empowerment, and global impact. Welcoming Jalimadi to our family is not just about representing his catalogue; it’s about building opportunities for collaboration, expanding his international reach, and ensuring that his artistry is protected, promoted, and celebrated.

Founder of Jaalolu, Serign-B, added:
“Jalimadi is more than an artist, he is a cultural voice. At Jaalolu, we are committed to protecting that voice and creating platforms that amplify Gambian talent worldwide. This partnership is about honoring our culture while opening doors to new possibilities.”

Culture is at the heart of Jaalolu. Our mission is to amplify the voices of African artists whose work reflects heritage, identity, and innovation. With Jalimadi, we see a partner whose music embodies exactly that. Together, we look forward to writing the next chapter, one that honors tradition while opening new doors for Gambian music on the world stage.

Welcome home, Jalimadi. The journey begins now.