Moshito 2011 turns up heat

Music industry and related specialists from Africa, South Africa, the USA, Spain, Canada, Indonesia, Colombia and several other countries will be taking part in the three-day programme being Africa's only annual music market.

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.

Day 1 topics

The first discussion on 31 August, is 'Understanding the digital music ecosystem' featuring panellist Marc Herson who is digital media executive at Softbank Capital will be joined by Antos Stella of Content Connect, Xolani Zulu of SAMRO, Steven Ambrose, MD at World Wide Worx Strategy, Nomsa Ntuli, Vodacom Content Manager: Music and Thabiet Allie, Vodacom Commercial Portfolio Manager: Media.

Also on Day 1, the panel discussion on 'The Future of Digital Music In Africa' will include Ben Herson, 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 will be joined by Gustav Praekelt, founder and CEO of Johannesburg-based Praekelt Consulting as well as a representative of the Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA), a US-based industry-leading digital music distribution company.

Other topics will 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'.

Day 2 programme:

Day 2 will examine the topic 'Local broadcast content and compliance with the UN Convention on Cultural Diversity'. The panel will include Christa Rautenbach (Northwest University) and Anel du Plessis (Northwest University).

The experience of other emerging markets is set to play a significant role in Moshito 2011 particularly a session 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.

Presentations

Day 3 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 2 September 2011 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 the last day and features a line-up of African artists including Nigerian singer-songwriter, Asa; award-winning Kenyan musician, Eric Wainaina and South Africa's etho-ragga and soul songstress, Nkulee Dube.

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