A gathering of high profile artists are confirmed to speak at the 10th anniversary of the Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition this year. Performing artist Kabomo, event programmer Langa Mancunga, music brand strategist Thabiso Khati, artist and programmer Mandisa Bardill, and Mafikizolo artist manager Phiwe Shabangu have all confirmed that they will speak at the annual music conference to discuss a broad range of industry issues.
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.
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, Johannesburg.
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.
Former head of media and promotion at Gallo and now CEO and founder of 360 Street Pty (Ltd), 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 says.
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.
