Moshito turns up the heat on the business of music at 2011 event

Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition is turning up the heat on the business of music in South Africa with its most extensive and impressive conference programme to date – once again confirming its standing as Africa’s premier music industry event aimed at developing and stimulating the domestic industry.

Established in 2004, Africa’s only annual music market takes place from August 31st to September 2nd at the Sci Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg. The 2011 event features over 30 sessions of panel discussions, information sessions and workshops. Music industry and related specialists from South Africa, Africa, the USA, Spain, Canada, Indonesia, Colombia and several other countries will be taking part in the three-day programme.

One of the main areas of discussion centres on digital music with two sessions taking place on August 31st that are essential for anyone creating, using or working with digital music – and serve to turn day one into a substantial offering for top-level businesspeople.

The first, on August 31st is ‘Understanding the digital music ecosystem’ featuring panelist Marc Herson who is currently Digital Media Executive at Softbank Capital. Based in Cape Town, Herson was formerly Senior Vice President, Strategy & New Ventures at (then) SONY BMG, overseeing strategy, M&A and consumer research, with a focus on developing new mobile and digital businesses. Joining Herson in the discussion are Antos Stella of Content Connect, Xolani Zulu of SAMRO and Steven Ambrose, Managing Director at WWWStrategy.

Also on August 31st is the panel discussion on ‘The Future of Digital Music In Africa’.

The heavyweight panel for this topic includes Ben Herson, the founder and director of Nomadic Wax – a global hip-hop record label and production company dedicated to recording, documenting and presenting hip-hop and underground music from around the world. He is joined by Gustav Praekelt, founder and CEO of Johannesburg-based Praekelt Consulting (a leader in developing mobile solutions for commercial clients) as well as a locally-based representative of the Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA), a US-based industry-leading digital music distribution company.

Other topics on Day One of Moshito 2011 include a session titled ‘Mzanzi’s Golden Economy – The DAC, the DTI and the music industry strategy’. Under this topic Professor Chats DeVroop will deliver a paper titled ‘Music as Culture versus Music as Creative Industries”. Discussions like ‘Women and leadership in the music industry’ and ‘The Growth of a Viable Pan-African Festival Circuit’ are also likely to attract delegates.

Day Two’s programme features what promises to be one of the most heated debates of Moshito 2011 – an examination of ‘Local broadcast content and compliance with the UN Convention on the Protection of Cultural Diversity’.

The experience of other emerging markets is set to play a significant role in Moshito 2011 – particularly a session on Day Two that examines Colombia’s Cultural Policy and the possibilities of cultural exchange between South Africa and Columbia. This session includes Raul Esteban Sanchez Niño of the Colombian embassy in South Africa, Richard Blair (Sidestepper), and journalist, Salym Fayad.

Day Three of Moshito 2011 swings the focus from the challenges and issues facing the music industry to a series of presentations that ensure newcomers to the industry or those needing to brush up on their knowledge and skills have a one-stop shop to go to. Topics on September 2nd range from ‘How To Improve Digital Revenue Streams’, to the youth-orientated ‘Technology for DJ’s – Beyond vinyl and loops’; ‘Publishing 101’; ‘Why Musicians Need Managers”; ‘Making Money Composing Music (featuring a presentation by award-winning composer, Phillip Miller), and ‘Touring North America’ (with input from Daniel Brooks of the Toronto-based International Tour and Tech Academy as well as SXSW Hip-hop and world music programmer, Matt Sonzala ).

Adding impact to Moshito 2011 is a host of live music events, including the now annual Africa Unites concert, presented in association with Arts Alive 2011. This year, Africa Unites takes place on September 2nd, and features a stunning line-up of world-class African artists including Nigerian singer-songwriter, Asa, award winning Kenyan musician , Eric Wainaina and South Africa’s etho-ragga and soul songstress, Nkulee Dube.

Once again, Moshito 2011 includes an exhibition element that will see leading entertainment, educational, governmental, and related entities exhibiting their services and goods to the public.

For a full programme and registration details – go to www.moshito.co.za.

Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition is supported by Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), The National Arts Council of SA (NAC), Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), Gauteng Provincial Government, African Synergy, Alliance Francaise, Swiss Arts Council – Pro Helvetia, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, City of Joburg, Embassy of Colombia, France Volontaires and the Sci Bono Discovery Centre.

For media interviews, media registration to MOSHITO 2011 and all Live Events within Moshito please contact Vanessa Perumal / Ayob Vania / Andrea Botha on (011) 788 7631 or media@jtcomms.co.za

Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of MOSHITO www.moshito.co.za