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Prominent music industry players and politicians from across the world have gathered in Newtown to exchange ideas on ways of promoting local musicians.  Mmino, a South African-Norwegian Music Cooperation put on a scintillating performance on the first day of the conference RECORD label executives, producers, songwriters, artists, media practitioners and music admirers are milling about Museum Africa, debating contentious and topical issues affecting the music industry while exchanging valuable insights and ideas. This is all part of Moshito '08, which got-off to a positive start on Wednesday, 10 September, in Joburg's cultural precinct, Newtown. Moshito is an annual music conference and exhibition, which is in its fifth year. This year's conference will run until Saturday, 13 September. It is targeted at music producers, songwriters and artists, record company personnel, promoters, engineers, distributors and the media; and is mainly geared at bringing issues pertinent to the music industry under the spotlight through encouraging debate in plenary, breakaway and hot seat sessions. Moshito offers these industry personnel a platform to socialise, showcase their goods and services, and network while exchanging information about the South African music industry and avenues which can be explored to expand it. Topics covered at the conference range from technology to socio-economic development and the digital aspect of the global music business, which is a central part of Moshito. Other topics are new music markets and how to tackle them, growing the live music industry: how is it changing and where is the money; social development and piracy; strategies for the digital age; digital rights management, the ringtone debacle; are musicians' workers and how the music industry can manage itself and represent its own interests. Moshito chairman, Arnold Mabunda says the conference programme showcases how seriously organisers take the music business in this country. "There is no better forum in South Africa where good quality business intelligence about the music industry is disseminated so effectively and accessibly than at Moshito," Mabunda says confidently. Moshito has grown to become one of the leading music conferences and exhibitions in the African continent since its inception in 2004. It is widely recognised for bringing together a diversity of professionals from across the world in the music fraternity to do business. "This flagship music conference in the only one of its kind on the continent," says Barbara Creecy, the Gauteng MEC for sports, arts, culture and recreation. Creecy adds that Moshito signifies an important milestone in the joint efforts of the music industry players to broaden industry knowledge and participation. "[This includes] addressing issues that directly impact on positioning local music in a rapidly changing global arena," she adds. For the province, Creecy notes, Moshito is a platform to widen business opportunities which lie both locally and abroad. "We will endeavour to widen enterprise participation and attract international business to invest in and partner with the South African music business." Creecy adds that the conference will continue to strengthen Gauteng's position as the heart of the South African music industry, "and we have a vested interest in growing this brand nationally and internationally". Moshito '08 aims to broaden the business acumen of people in the music industry; strengthen their business networks and spread the word to delegates, traders and the public about the comprehensive nature of what is truly a global arts and culture industry. Addressing the forum, arts and culture.minister, Pallo Jordan, called on music entrepreneurs to collaborate to groom local talent. "For its success, the initiative requires the synergies among the existing South African record producers; the new producers and new labels that can reconnoitre the musical terrain and explore the viability of emergent tastes and the durability of old ones." Because seats are limited, musicians, music executives and the like who have not yet signed up, are urged to do so quickly. So far, the support from industry players is phenomenal. "We are determined to prove the capacity of music to market our country internationally and to leave an indelible mark on the world musical market place," Jordan notes, adding that in this, Moshito play a crucial role. As a plus for the conference, local and international speakers have been scheduled to unbundle topical issues pertinent to the music fraternity throughout the conference. They include Gerald Seligman, the director of Womex, Manny Mohamed Aly Ansar, from Mali and David Vodicka, the managing director of Rubber Records and Rubber Music Publishing. British journalist and writer, Nigel Williamson, and Charles Ruyembe Mulimba, the director of Rulu Arts Promoters in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania complete the panel of speakers. Alison Wenham, the president of Worldwide Independent Music Industry Network (WIN); Lazarus Serobe, the Managing Director of Gallo Music; Marc Latilla, Senior Music Buyer at Look & Listen; Sello Galane, Ray Phiri, DJ Christos, and Sipho Sithole, Head of Group Strategy at the South African Broadcasting Corporation are some of the local practitioners billed for the conference. John Ingham, an expert on the interface between the digital environment and music will also deliver a paper. "We have a very impressive line-up of international speakers drawn from so many different countries including Brazil, Mali, Tanzania, France, Sweden, and Australia – and they are all the top experts in their field," says Mabunda. The conference is fully endorsed and sponsored by the City of Johannesburg and the national Department of Arts and Culture, the SABC, Gearhouse South Africa, the South African Music Rights Organisation and Business and Arts South Africa. It is organised in partnership with the Gauteng provincial department of sport, arts, culture and recreation. In addition, this year's Moshito has forged a partnership with Womex, the biggest folk, ethnic, traditional, alternative and local music and trade fair worldwide. "We believe that not only is their experience in organising conferences, exhibitions and events something that Moshito can really benefit from, but we believe they have a belief in the music of this continent, that is at the very core of what Moshito does," Mabunda notes. In response, WOMEX general director Gerald Seligman says that his organisation is honoured to be working with Moshito and feel privileged to be collaborating in the home of one of the world's richest musical cultures, Joburg. Steven Sack, the director; directorate of arts, culture and heritage in the City, says that Joburg is undoubtedly the mecca of the music industry with its agglomeration of recording companies, distribution outlets and live venues. "It is a fact that musicians from all corners of South Africa come to Joburg to seek opportunities to launch their careers," Sack notes. Part of the purpose and intention of the conference is, Sack says, to help citizens to better comprehend the constraints and opportunities that confront musicians, as well as all of those people who make up the music industry value chain across the length and breadth of South Africa. "At Moshito, we are made aware of new industry trends, get to network with a range of industry players and gauge the state of the music industry in South Africa. We also have a chance to be stimulated and challenged, [but] most importantly meet new people and make new friends," he concludes. Exhibitors at the conference include, Pro Musica Theatre, Prosound, SABC, Gallo records, EMI Music, South Africa Music Rights Organisation, Music Industry Online, Department of Arts and Culture, Gauteng Economic Development, Mmino, the South African-Norwegian Music Cooperation, and many more. The exhibition lobby at Museum Africa comprises pictorial exhibits, film screenings, CD's, live music and radio broadcasts, literature, live music, music instruments and newspaper clippings about the history of indigenous music to list a few. This year's conference places a very strong focus on live music, which is generally regarded as a lucrative mode to generate cash in the music industry. During a debate held on Wednesday, 10 September, about live music performances, and how to make money out of it, legendary musician, Bra Ray Phiri highlighted that the South African music scene had taken or approached a different stance since his heydays with the iconic ensemble, Stimela, about 41 years ago. "If you ask me about the South African music industry I will pose a question back to you and say, what industry? Because we haven't created enough space for it to be called a music industry, rather say it's a recording industry," Phiri told a sitting of photographers, journalists and television crews and other artists who had sat down in the Museum auditorium to delve into that topical issue. Forming part of the panel was world renowned DJ Christos, who argued that although South Africa's live music industry wasn't doing that well compared to its international counterparts, his union had created a lucrative niche in the house music genre, and "it beats our international counterparts". The panel further argued that it is important for musicians to treat their fans and their craft with respect, through producing professional hits which are worth being listened to, and putting up rigorous and energetic performances which can catch the eye, "so that fans keep coming back," Christos noted. However, he was very optimistic about the future of live music in South Africa. "All hope is not lost for our industry, we are getting there," said Christos , who is a member of Djs-United, a union of recognised South African disc jockeys who campaign for house music to be played more worldwide. Phiri urged relevant stakeholders to consider building arts centres across the country, "so that people can be educated more and exposed in the arts". Moshito '08 runs in Joburg's cultural precinct, Newtown, at the Museum Africa until Saturday, 13 September. Registration for the conference is R500 per delegate or company; however, organisers will make provisions for those who are unable to afford this. The fee gives delegates access to all days of the conference, as well as the Delegate's Cocktail Party every night of the conference. The conference will also have "public days" on Friday, 12 and Saturday, 13 September, when parties will feature live performances. This, the organisers note, will give those interested in the music industry access to the conference's Listening Booth, which gives budding artists, producers and songwriters an opportunity to present and play their demos. There will be a 1-Minute Hip Hop Battle on Saturday, 13 September, running from 10am until noon. Registration for producers, dancers, beat boxers and DJs opens from 9am until 9:45am. To register online visit the website or click here to register for the Moshito '08 trade exhibition. For more information, telephone Vanessa Perumal of JT Communications Solutions on 083 268 1446 or email her on
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