As many are celebrating the 90% local music play-listed on SABC platforms downfall, many practitioners in the music industry might have nothing to show for it some years down the line.
This will be a mirror image of the sad and unwelcome situation that has bedevilled the music industry since the beginning, and seen artists signing their lives away, making bad deals, and dying as paupers. But, if things go DJU’s (Vinny Da Vinci, DJ Christos, DJ Fresh, DJ Oskido, and Greg “The Maestro” Maloka) way, the situation under which artists/producers die as paupers will be a thing of the past.
Like they have been doing in the last 12 years, the five iconic music industry brands who are involved in the music industry in many spheres bring the highly rated annual Southern African Music Conference (SAMC) once again. Over the years the conference has seen the launch of empowered and informed brands such as Black Coffee, DJ Shimza, DJ Tira, Heavy K, and more success stories within the industry.
Supported by Arts & Culture, Durban Tourism, media sponsors SABC1, and SABC radio, SAMC hits Pietermaritzburg for the first time this year. With entry now free to attend the conference, interested practitioners need to be at the Winston Churchill Hall in the city on Wednesday 29 June. The conference then moves on to Zorka Lounge on Florida Road in Durban on 30th and 01st July. Registration is at 10am on all Conference days, and seats are reserved on a first-come first-served basis.
Topics to be covered at this year’s conference include ‘Artist Development’, ‘Music Publication and Production’, ‘The Digital Age and Distribution’, ‘Media and Entertainment’, ‘Festivals and Live Events’, ‘Law – Contracts and Registrations (presented by SAMRO)’ and more. Names involved in sharing this information include the DJU icons, Female DJ’s Network (FDNN), DJ Zinhle, Lesedi FM’s DJ Finzo, Sibusiso Hadebe (Ligwalagwala FM), Brewed Soul, C-Major , Entertainment lawyer Kaiser, with special guest speakers like DJ Ganyani, Emtee, Dimplez, and DJ Pepsi. Interestingly, the covered topics are not limited to what is on the agenda, as attendees are encouraged to expand beyond what is on the list, and engage with presenters event out of the normal conference schedule.
Oskido says that as with his “I believe” brand, DJU has always believed in what Mzansi has to offer musically. “South Africa is the house music mecca in the world now, and hip-hop is blowing up in a big way, and has seen international greats looking towards Mzansi for their next biggest signing. All this will be futile if artists are not informed about their rights as far as their God given talents are concerned, and that’s exactly what some of us who learnt the hard way in the industry decided that newer artists don’t have to have it hard like we did. All the people who need information in the industry just need to get themselves to the conference to be informed on various levels of the industry, and it’s free.”
Registration for the conference kicks off at 10am on conference days, and runs until 5pm. Of course, after a hard day’s work, the day ends off with after-parties from 8pm till 4am. Wednesday’s after-party will be held at Exclusive Lounge Night Club, featuring Oskido, Fresh, Vinny, Christos, The Maestro, Bobsta, Luciano, Mzala Wa Afrika, Rhythm Session, Spice & Virgo, Brewed Soul, FDN, and Nonjebc.
Wozobona joins Thursday’s after-party sponsors at the Zorka Lounge Venue. This gig features the likes of Iziqhaza on stage, Oskido, The Maestro, DJ Fresh, Bobsta, DJ Sox, Websta, JNR The Rocks, AJ Apple, FDN, Rhythm Session, C-Major, and Brewed Soul. Artizen Lounge hosts the Friday After-Party in Kwa-Mashu, featuring X-Factor SA winners FOUR, Iziqhaza, Oskido, DJ Pepsi, Sparks Bantwana, Nzwiri, and Stanky. Entry to all after-parties is R100.
This empowering gathering ends off with the Demo Session at Artizen Lounge, KwaMashu, on 03 July. At this laidback and uber platform, music makers and producers get a chance to have their music critiqued by industry players (like maybe vocals here, an instrument there, tighten the production here or such. What’s exciting about this session is that some breaking music names also get signed on the spot on this particular session. R100 get you (free to conference attendees) in this event that will also feature all DJU members, DJ Pepsi, Bobsta, Twitty, Sparks Bantwana, AJ Apple, Rhythm Session, Liquid DJ and Funky Soul.
Moreover, the conference features its highlight and attached DJU presents Mother of All Parties heavily loaded event featuring Chris Brown, Slum Village and Eve, on Saturday, 01 July. Presented with Mabalabala Noise Entertainment, the once off event features hot acts such as EMTEE, Cassper Nyovest, Riky Rick, Professor, Fifi Cooper, Anatii, Lvovo, ZAKWE, Tinashe, Chynaman, DU Boiz, KOTW, and more. With Channel O partnering as the media partner for this do that has the Back to the Old Skool brand, tickets are available at Computicket for this Growthpoint Kings Park Stadium gig. Visit www.moap.co.za for this event only.
