As reported by techweez.com, Kenyan music streaming and distribution start-up, Mdundo has reached 1.5 million monthly users. The African music aimed, Spotify-like platform lists some of the latest and songs from Kenya and other parts of Africa to stream or download for free.

Started in 2013, it is one of the most reliable music sources in Kenya. Mdundo says it has registered over 8 million users and in the last six months has facilitated more than 18 million music downloads, with a directory of over 40 000 songs and 15 000 artists from around the continent. It now has offices in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

According to Mdundo, sales of music have gone drastically down over the past two decades physical. "Musicians make little to no money on most music distribution channels as they are illegal and not controlled."

The company says it hopes to combat illegal access of music on the continent, "The majority of music in Africa is accessed illegally, Mdundo believes that the best way to stop this trend is to make the music easily available, allow the fans to listen to all of it free of charge and generate revenue through advertisement – exactly like a radio station."

Mdundo head of music & operations, Wanjiku Koinange says the site has boosted a number of local artists who have since been seen topping the charts. This year alone, it says music has been streamed over 30 million times, the majority (70%) coming from its web platform and the rest from its app.

The platform has a free with ads which it says generate the revenue to compensate the artists, whereas its premium version removes ads and users pay a monthly subscription.

It says the following countries have more than 500 active users a month include: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Egypt, Mali, Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, Togo, Benin, Burundi, Mozambique and Ethiopia, with 37 of the overall countries having more than 10 listed musicians.

Countries outside Africa include: US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, Qatar, Germany, Lebanon, Oman and India.

Musicians sign up use the platform and Mdundo pays them 50% of the revenue