About I BE MUSIC
The songs you sing along to. The content you share online. The hits you stream and the shows you watch on TV. I Be Music is Africa's #1 Playlisting Company. The team - based in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban - consistently secures excellent results for clients.
The way you consume content has changed. It’s time you promote it differently too
MEET THE TEAM
Ian Bredenkamp
Founder
As the Founder of I Be Music, Africa's premier music marketing company, Ian Bredenkamp leads a dynamic team dedicated to advancing the careers of artists and labels across the continent and beyond.
Under Ian's leadership, I Be Music offers comprehensive artist and label services, specialising in streaming, radio and TV playlisting, and artist PR. His client roster boasts a diverse array of international labels, indie labels, and emerging artists, including global icons such as Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, Coldplay, and Cardi B, among others. He’s worked with releases of South African icons including Hugh Masekela, Johnny Clegg, Major League DJz, Big Zulu, Sjava, Lady Zamar, Kamo Mphela, Elaine and many more. Major players in the music industry, including Warner Africa, Universal Music South Africa, Virgin Music, One RPM and BMG Europe, trust Ian and his team to deliver unparalleled promotional strategies and results.
A highly accomplished public-speaker, Ian has engaged audiences at the BreakOut West music conference in Calgary in Canada, the Journalism department at the University of Stellenbosch, the COPA (Centre of Performing Arts) in Pretoria and Midrand, Cape Audio College in Cape Town, the Tunecore x Texx and the City music workshop in Johannesburg and many more. He’s also appeared on several media outlets to discuss music marketing including SABC3’s Expresso morning TV show.
His expertise is honed from years of influential roles, including a prominent tenure on Primedia Broadcasting's Senior Management team. He played pivotal roles as Head of Programming for KFM 94.5, overseeing music strategy for 947 (Joburg) and KFM (Cape Town).
WENDY VERWEY BEKKER
DSPs & Label Services
Wendy started her career in the music business at Universal Music South Africa, breaking the biggest internationally signed acts (Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Imagine Dragons) in South Africa. Over the next ten years she worked her way up through the decline of CD sales and rise of digital distribution, finishing as Head of Marketing. She built on her entertainment industry and technology knowledge by joining South Africa’s cult festival OppiKoppi and machine-learning algorithmic playlisting startup Labs.fm, before opening Ditto Music’s operations in Africa as their regional manager in 2018. Over the last six years She’s educated independent artists across the continent, signed award-winning artists and labels to the label services division and designed marketing strategies that have grown careers, exporting break-out independent African artists internationally (Monaky, Easy Freak, lordkez). With a proven ability to align business goals, innovation and growth for both independent artists and their teams, as well as within label operations, having cultural impact remains exciting to her. She is known for building artist-first strategies, leading agile teams remotely and driving market expansion across Africa.
Mellissa Ngcobo
Publicist
Mellissa cut her teeth in radio, producing the chart show at 947 in Johannesburg. She holds a National Diploma in Media Practices, with majors in Public Relations and Radio Broadcasting. Her love for music sometimes causes her to sing aloud before during a meeting. We apologise in advance.
ASHLEY LOBO
Publicist
Ashley Lobo is a Publicist and a core part of the plugging and promo team. She runs all social media for the agency Don't be surprised if she emails you on a Sunday, or at 3am, or until she gets a reply