Karl Gostner opens Music Exchange 2010
23 Mar 2010
After being briefly welcomed yesterday by Martin Myers, co-organiser of Music Exchange 2010, the podium was handed over to Karl Gostner, GM, Primedia Cape Town (Kfm, Cape Talk) to deliver the opening address of the event. The second annual conference is currently underway at the Protea Hotel Victoria Junction in Cape Town, from 22 to 24 March, 2010.
Martin Myers
100 years of shared experience
With South Africa commemorating the 50th anniversary of National Human Rights Day on Sunday, 21 March, Gostner noted that it is important to reflect over the history of leadership in the country and use that standard set as the context for what the conference aims to achieve in the course of its two days. Hosting over 100 years of shared experience in the music industry in one room, one is bound to walk away more informed and greatly inspired.
Don't fumble in the dark
Gostner spoke of the complicated media landscape that those in the industry must now deal with, having both digital and traditional media models to contend with now and, for some, he described it as "fumbling along a little in the dark". He believes that the future of the music industry rests on the interface between these models. Gostner referred to author Jim Collin's book How The Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In highlighting that the last stage in decline, as written by Collins is "Capitulation to Irrelevance or Death". Adoption and adaption to new models is necessary for even the largest conglomerates to survive during changing times and “desperate clinging on to the past” will result in failure.
Put in meaningful hours
It is the outlook of its leaders that will affect the outcome of the business says Gostner, using the innovation of Steve Jobs, who reinvented the Apple business model within the content industry, as an example of leading business into new space when presented with a problem. He also maintained that to succeed in anything one needs to work continuously at it: "Yes you need the talent, yes you need the skill, but you also need to put in the hours - and transform what you do." And those hours need to be filled with “focus, vision and passion” to make them count.
Gostner concluded his address to all in the auditorium saying: "Go forward and make an impact as a leader in the music industry."
For more information, go to www.musicexchange.co.za
About Sindy Peters
Sindy Peters (@sindy_hullaba_lou) is a group editor at Bizcommunity.com on the Construction & Engineering, Energy & Mining, and Property portals. She can be reached at moc.ytinummoczib@ydnis.
