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Thando Makhunga

Thando Makhunga

Thando Makhunga is a dynamic South African music industry executive and thought leader. As Managing Director of Downtown Music Publishing Africa—the continent’s largest independent music publisher – she drives strategic growth, negotiates major deals, and spearheads catalogue acquisitions across Africa and beyond. Under her leadership, the company has expanded its footprint, on the continent, securing partnerships with leading global brands and advocating for the rights of African creators.

In early 2025, Thando was named to Billboard’s Global Power Players list, recognizing her influence on the worldwide music landscape. That same year, she was appointed Chairperson of Music Ecosystems, a global organization dedicated to advancing research, policy, and best practice regarding music’s contribution to economic and social development.

Thando serves on the board of the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association (CAPASSO) and, since 2024, has served as Chairperson of the Music Publishers Association of South Africa (MPASA) – making history as the first Black woman in that role. Her global governance footprint includes serving as Vice Chairperson of the ICMP Africa Regional Group.

Most recently, in April 2026, Thando was formally appointed by the Board of the Southern African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO) to the MoI Review Task Team. In this capacity, she is responsible for deliberating upon and making recommendations regarding proposed amendments to SAMRO’s Memorandum of Incorporation, helping to shape the future governance of one of Africa’s largest Collective Management Organizations.

Earlier in her career, Thando was Group Music Manager at Primedia Broadcasting, where she shaped music strategy and regulatory-compliance systems across multiple radio brands, including 702, Cape Talk, and KFM. Notably, she led 947 (South Africa’s largest independent commercial music radio station) to its highest audience figures while serving as Station Manager.

A passionate advocate for social change, Thando is also Chairperson of RAD (Rise Above Development), a Cape Town-based non-profit empowering youth through music and education. She is an alumna of the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), most recently having completed the Global Executive Development Program in 2025.

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  • Organization
    Downtown Music Publishing Africa
  • Profession
    Managing Director
  • Social media
Related sessions
In person
7 July 2026
•
11:30 - 12:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Africa rising: The people building the future of music

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