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The Business of Music is the topic is of this year’s Moshito conference, attracting delegates from around the globe.
MUSEUM Africa, the venue for the sixth annual Moshito music conference and exhibition, is swarming with artists, composers, producers, music admirers, promoters, record company executives and the like.
Hailing from all corners of the globe, the conference attendees are in Newtown, Joburg’s cultural precinct, to network and exchange valuable insights and thoughts about the music business as well as showcase their music.
Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana
Opening the conference on Wednesday, 2 September, Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana said Moshito was very significant for the country because of its central focus to promote and understand the business of music.
“The department of arts and culture is charged with the unique responsibility of enhancing socio-economic development, promoting social cohesion and nation building and nurturing our sense of national identity, through the development, preservation and promotion of South African arts, heritage and culture,” the minister said, noting that Moshito was one of the organisations that could help her department deliver on this mandate.
South Africa needed to unite with the global community in ensuring that artists and people in the music industry were “developed”, Xingwana noted. “We need a solid base of highly informed role players and the first step in building this base is to remove all the knowledge barriers that block the majority of our people from taking part in this business.”
Enhancing development
Moshito is designed to enhance development in the music sector, Xingwana said, adding that the conference and trade fair should be an advocate for transformation within the music industry.
The Moshito music conference and expo is designed to broaden the business acumen of people in the music business, strengthen their business networks and spread the word to delegates, traders and the public about the comprehensive nature of the music fraternity.
A range of topical and contentious issues forms the basis of debate and discussion at the conference. These include how to sell music on the internet, how the global economic downturn is affecting the business of music, piracy, music industry challenges and socio-economic development, technology, the digital aspect of the global music business and how to make a living through live music performances.
Xingwana noted that the conference needed also to focus on issues of royalties paid to musicians, promoters and producers. “We need to demystify the business of music and take it down the empowerment and mainstream [way] so that everyone can participate in it on an equal basis. The music business shouldn’t be for the rich elites alone, it must also involve grassroots participation,” she said.
Broadening business acumen
Moshito was a very informative conference, which tackled head on issues affecting the global music scene and those of South Africa, noted Andre le Roux, the chairman of Moshito. He said it was imperative for artists to start treating their craft and themselves as a “business”.
Le Roux said the conference aims to be the portal to the African music business and to anyone that wishes to tune into the African music market. “This year’s Moshito is a success for we believe in our vision and we work, and even though at times there are fears and competition for resources, we are managing to exist and to thrive.”
Making music pay
Moshito 09 – themed “The business of music” – started on Wednesday, 2 September and will run at Museum Africa until Saturday, 5 September. International speakers invited to thrash out issues pertinent to the music industry include pianist, composer, arranger and singer Professor Matt Jenson, investment specialist and radio personality David Shapiro, music export expert Phil Tripp and vocalist Ray Phiri, among others.
Moshito is supported by the City of Joburg 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.
Registration for Moshito 09 is R500 per delegate; however, companies or groups of 10 or more music professionals can pay R400. Music students booking in groups of 10 or more will receive a 40% discount and pay R300 per delegate. The fee gives delegates access to all conference sessions, the trade exhibition, workshops and a cocktail party.
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