SABC, Government pledge support for South African music industry
CD Anderson
11 September 2015
At the opening of the 12th Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition at the
SABC, Auckland Park on Thursday 10 September 2015, venue hosts SABC and
Moshito partners the Department of Arts and Culture assured delegates of their
continuing support in helping initiatives like Moshito in developing and curating
South African music.
Moshito Music Conference chairperson Sipho Sithole welcomed guests,
delegates and visitors to the conference, saying that the Moshito ideal was to make
the event a "premier destination for music makers and the music business" not only
for Africa, but for the world. This year the conference has invited music business
representatives and musicians from as far as China, Brazil and Jamaica to share
and exchange ideas on how to strengthen the business as a viable commodity in the
digital age.
Chairperson of #Moshito2015 Mr Sipho Sithole opens the conference with a
brief historical background and emphasizes it's capacity to accomodate
members of the entertainment industry #TheBusinessofMusicPosted by Moshito Otswela Pele
on Thursday, September 10, 2015
Sithole said that in the 12 years the conference had been running, Moshito has
achieved a reputation as being the "most admired local event for music business
engagement", and that the three-year relationship the conference has built with the
Department of Arts and Culture has only strengthened that credibility.
In explaining this year's conference theme, "From Kwela to Hop",
Sithole said
Moshito wants to highlight the respect paid to South African music of the past, and
how that respect informs and guides the music of the present and future. "South
Africa," he said, "wants to be known for a variety of genres: this variety defines
who we are as a country." But the conference, he said, pointing to the selection of
musical showcases and collaborations with international artists to be held during the
event, was not just about talking about music, but also an opportunity to feel, see
and hear the power of South African music.
In some words of support for the conference, SABC Group CEO Frans Matlala
welcomed Moshito to the SABC venue, calling the event a pivotal instrument in
promoting music across Africa, saying it was "fundamental in preserving South
African culture." He requested that Moshito do its part in telling the South African
story to the world.
Matlala hoped, as the success of Moshito grew, that the power of
music would bring the rest of the world back to Africa. Matlala was confident this
year's event would be the best one yet, pledging that Moshito would always have a
home at the SABC.
SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng reiterated that commitment, praising Moshito for
"doing well to stand by local artists." He did, however, urge the music business in
general to find a way to bring the various organisations that dealt with finances and
support systems of the music industry under one umbrella organisation to insure a
holistic philosophy to deal with the challenges of the industry. One of those
challenges is the payment of music royalties to songwriters and artists, and
Motsoeneng announced that after long negotiations with the industry, the SABC
would commit to paying outstanding royalties to the sum of R100 million to local
artists.
"We want to make sure the money reaches the right people," he
said.
Motsoeneng welcomed Moshito and its visitors to the SABC, saying the event's
philosophy "reminds us of where we come from, as well as where we, as a nation,
are going." The SABC is committed to adding more of that history, the legacy and
the works of some of the country's greatest music artists past and present, to all
radio and television programming.
Motsoeneng concluded by urging all music lovers to be active in that curation
of culture by paying TV licences, the money from which goes back into promoting
that culture to more South African, the African continent and the rest of the world.
Representing the Minister of Arts and Culture, Deputy Director General of the
department Monica Newton praised Moshito for changing the cultural landscape of
the country over its 12 year existence. "It gives me a warm feeling in my heart that
events like this do so much for nation building," Newton said, adding that the
Moshito organisation did well with
dealing with the trials and tribulations of the
music industry on behalf of the artists and music lovers in general, highlighting the
challenges faced by the industry like piracy and technology changes. Newton added
that it was important to create a living heritage of the arts in South Africa,
respecting and honouring the legends of the past, using the lessons learnt from that
to help guide and grow local musical culture into the future.
"Music," Newton said, "was a canary in a coalmine for society, a way to
measure and negotiate the cultural landscape," adding that the department's
partnership with Moshito was a pleasure and privilege to be part of. Newton
concluded in wishing the event success and hoped it would become the foremost
collaborator with both local artists and in its growing international friendships, "the
people of Moshito have done a lot of hard work in strengthening the music business,
and we wish them well for the future."
The Moshito Conference and Exhibition includes discussions on various aspects
of the music industry in both local and international contexts, as well as looking at
trends and changes that touch both the business and artistic development. Seminars
include
music branding, archiving of musical legacy, changes in digital musical
technology, song writing and exploring new markets for music.
In between the seminars, visitors and delegates will be entertained by various
public performances at the exhibition at the SABC's Radio Park venue, as well as at
some of Johannesburg's legendary music venues.
The conference will culminate with a special concert titled "The Great South
African Song Book" on
Saturday, 12 September at Newtown Park featuring an all-
star collection of some of South Africa's best music artists, including Arthur, Judith
Sephuma, Mzwakhe Mbuli and Cortina Whiplash.
The official Faces of the Moshito Music Conference 2015, hip hop legend Emile XY and master of the penny whistle Lemmy Mabaso represent the conference philosophy of connecting the rich history of South African music with the future of the local music business. (Image: Moshito Music)