SABC partners with music conference expo

As part of its involvement in Moshito '08, the SABC will be significantly upping the South African music on its playlist during the three days of the event - from Wednesday, 10 September 2008 to Friday 13 September. The organisation will also have a stand at the exhibition, where it will engage with delegates and the public on its music programming and more.

Several of its representatives will be involved in the many debates and presentations that make up the conference element of Moshito '08, giving insight into the SABC's position on the key issues that face the SA music industry, particularly its new music policy and strategy to be unveiled at the conference.

What's more, there will be an Outside Broadcast from Moshito '08, giving listeners who are not able to attend a feel for this key music industry initiative and also allowing DJs to interview speakers at the event, as well as the artists that are performing both at Moshito and around the Newtown Precinct during the conference.

International speaker lineup

Leading the list of international experts is Gerald Seligman, the director of the world's biggest and most influential world music gathering, WOMEX. Seligman will be bringing his expertise in the music industry as well as his experience in growing WOMEX to delegates, marking the start of a new relationship between Moshito and the world music expo that is poised to significantly up the ante of the former.

Also heading to Johannesburg is Nigel Williamson - an internationally respected journalist, editor and broadcaster of close to 30 years.

A former news editor of The Times, Williamson now writes on a freelance basis about pop, rock and world music for a wide variety of publications, including the daily newspapers The Times, The Guardian and The Independent. He is also a contributing editor of Uncut magazine and of the world music magazine, Songlines. He is the author of several books, including The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan, The Rough Guide To The Blues, The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin and the forthcoming Rough Guide To The Best Music You've Never Heard (due for publication on 1 October). Williamson has traveled widely around Africa and interviewed many of the continent's leading musicians, including Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal, Ali Farka Toure, Femi Kuti and countless others.

Another addition is Manny Mohamed Aly Ansar, the driving force behind the Festival in the Desert in Mali, one of Africa's most legendary music festivals and widely acknowledged as providing a global platform for Africa's Tuareg musicians. The emphasis on live music at this year's Moshito is also reinforced by the inclusion of Hans Hjorth. Until recently chairman of the European Worldwide Music Festivals Forum, Hjorth is currently the executive manager of the European Live Music Forum and senior producer at Concerts Sweden.

The expansion of African participation in Moshito '08 is underscored with the inclusion of several other experts from the continent, including Charles Ruyembe Mulimba, the director of the Rulu Arts Promoters based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Ever-changing digital domain

The ever-changing digital domain is another strong aspect of Moshito ‘08's conference and this year John Ingham, a world- renowned expert on the interface between the digital environment and music, is one of the international speakers. Ingham's experience is longstanding and varied and includes serving as content director at both CompuServe and music portal Worldpop, and business development at Cable & Wireless, occupying the position of head of content development at UK mobile operator O2, and advising media and entertainment companies on their online and mobile strategies, including Syco TV, Sony BMG, EMI Music, BT, Agora (Poland) and Zonik (Saudi Arabia). He is now content director at ESP, a technology company creating and building interactive entertainment channels for media companies.

David Vodicka, MD, Rubber Records and Rubber Music Publishing, will bring his expertise in the independent sector to Moshito '08. Vodicka serves as the elected VP of WIN (Worldwide Independent Network), chairman of the board for AIR (Australian Independent Record labels association) and is also a current board member of MIFF (Melbourne International Film Festival), PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia) and ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association).

Moshito '08 takes place 10 -13 September, and delegates may register online, via fax or at the Moshito offices in Newtown. For more information, go to www.moshito.co.za.