Industry heavyweights lined up for Moshito 2013

Event programmer Langa Mancunga will participate in the panel dealing with the growing gap between live music venues and music festivals. As a music event programmer, he claims credit for organising events such as the Drumbeat Festival, Oppikoppi, the Speak the Mind Poetry sessions the Amstel Golden Hour, the Mbombela Music Festival and the Shoko music festival in Zimbabwe.

His view is that there isn't a strong live music circuit in southern Africa because artists in the region aren't speaking to each other. "It's also difficult to move around the region due to a lack of venues. But there's a way venues can start working with festivals. In trying to establish who plays at these festivals, how they are chosen and where they play to get recognition, we can start to lessen the gap between live music venues and music festivals," he explained.

Imparting her insights on the same topic is Mandisa Bardill, who doubles both as a performing artist and music event organiser. Her innovative approach has been to take advantage of alternative spaces to create a platform for emerging artists. She hosts an acclaimed monthly showcase, Up and Coming, profiling emerging local musicians on a monthly basis at restaurant/lounge Katzy's in Rosebank, Joburg.

The role of traditional and social media

In the past two years Kabomo has dominated the industry with two successful albums, "All Things Grey" and "Memory Remains", which have turned him into a top billed artist. An incisive user of social media platforms, he will be speaking on the role of traditional and social media in controlling the flow of relevant brand information.

"Because I have background in traditional media as a writer and a former editor, I understand how that works. But I enjoy the immediate and direct access I have with my audience through social media, which is a great advantage. The danger in that is that you cannot control it. On the other hand the number of followers I reach through traditional media like TV and print is far greater than that on social media," he commented.

Former head of media and promotion at Gallo and now CEO and founder of 360 Street, Thabiso Khati sees social media as integral to the survival of brands in today's spaces. "We at 360 see ourselves as culture translators and we develop strategies to help brands align themselves within the urban youth space using music. The direct access we have with our clients through social media boosts our marketing," Khati said.

Involve your market

Naima Mclean is a new artist with an interesting approach to how she builds and markets her brand. Having made a name for herself in the spoken word and urban soul music scene with notable performances at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and in Nigeria, she is currently promoting her first single, Hero, featuring rapper AKA. Previously signed to a major record label, she decided to go independent which makes her the ideal speaker on the recording and distribution deals theme.

"Looking at global trends, it makes logical and business sense to push for single releases to involve your market in the process and gauge their readiness for a whole album. In trying to do things differently I needed a space to think out of the box. There were risks that a major label was not prepared to take with me and there was a lack of innovative approach. Going independent is not easy as there's a lot of work you need to do as a new kid on the block and there isn't the credibility that comes with a major label. But I was much more concerned about ownership and intellectual property. And my ambition is African and beyond," Mclean commented.

Mafikizolo is currently one of South Africa's most successful touring brands, with their album "Reunited" capturing the imagination of audiences across the African continent. Their manager, Phiwe Shabangu will participate in the panel entitled "Going on Tour - what Every Touring Artist Needs to Know" to share insights about how to handle this potentially lucrative, but complex aspect of the music industry.

Registration for the conference is now open, and can be accessed at the conferences official website, www.Moshito.co.za.