YKOE
Independent South African gospel record label founded by singer HLE for her debut album, with masters later licensed to Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG.
- Based in
- South Africa
YKOE is an independent record label founded by South African gospel singer HLE (Hlengiwe Ntombela) to release her debut album, Your Kingdom On Earth, from which the label takes its name. Gospel Corner Online, reporting on the album’s release, described YKOE as HLE’s “newly-formed independent record label” and noted it as 100% black female-owned.
The label operates alongside a partnership with management and label outfit The T Effect. HLE’s masters have also been released under exclusive license to Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG, a Universal Music Group division, following a global recording deal reported by CCM Magazine in February 2022. No independent YKOE website, email address or social media handle has been found; HLE’s own artist site does not name the label.
YKOE matters as a documented case of a South African gospel artist structuring her own imprint rather than signing directly to a major from the outset, even as her catalogue later moved onto a major-affiliated license.