Gallo Record Company, having been a leader in domestic music since 1926, holds some of the greatest South African music catalogue of all time including Lucky Dube, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Stimela, The Soul Brothers, Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Manhattan Brothers, Simphiwe Dana, Thandiswa, Gé Korsten, Lusanda Spiritual Group and Mango Groove to name a few.

Sheer Sound is an independent record label founded in 1994. The label was primarily focused as a Jazz and world music label with a stellar line up of artists including Busi Mhlongo, Gito Baloi, Paul Hamner, and McCoy Mrubata, who were established through Sheer Sound during the late 1990’s. Later on, the label signed on Sipho Gumede, Ernie Smith, Gloria Bosman and Zim Ngqawana amongst others. Sheer has also has been label host to the multi-platinum Zimbabwean music super star, Oliver Mtukudzi. The Sheer Sound domestic roster grew into various other genres adding an adult contemporary line up including Farryl Purkiss, Jeremy Loops and The Graeme Watkins Project.

Sheer’s international lineup houses some of the most prestigious independent labels including World Circuit (Gold selling Grammy Award-winning label – Buena Vista Social Club, Ali Farka Toure) PIAS (Tiesto, Alt-J, Editors), Cooking Vinyl (Prodigy, Marilyn Manson), Telarc (Grammy Award-winning label feat Fourplay, Peter White, Gerald Albright, Jeannie Bryson, Ray Brown) as well as Mack Avenue (home to Jonathan Butler and Kirk Whalum).

“Sheer & Bula now form part of Gallo Record Company and Times Media’s broader strategy to build our music business into a formidable player in South Africa – the acquisition brings an upsize in staff from Sheer Sound who will be joining the Gallo team effective immediately. We are expecting major impetus in the industry with these two major music acquisitions,” says Andrew Gill, managing director - Broadcast & Content: Times Media PTY Limited.