The Music Exchange is a great music network event that I have benefitted from tremendously in many ways. The 2013 event turned me on to the technical/practical legal aspects of copyrighting and publishing that I could not have possibly learned on my own. As well as music production workshops from Charles Webster that was a huge learning curve for me it gave me insight on how the PRO’s make a record and I have learned a tremendous amount of new things that I have since applied in my own productions.

Attending the Music Exchange was informative, and extremely inspiring. It was refreshing to meet so many down-to-Earth, approachable industry folks, especially Mr Trevor Jones, Charles Webster & Mr Sipho Hotstix.

This has been one of the most valuable music conferences anyone could ever attend. We have all been overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity of the professionals who have shared their time, talent, resources, information, and guidance with us all.

I personally was so grateful to these professionals and quite surprised by their generosity and spirit.

The organizers and support staff have conducted themselves as ‘allegoric music saints’. I have gratitude to you all.

The aim of the conference was to hold an independent conference that promotes good business to support talent in the South African music industry in order for them to become successful locally and ultimately internationally. Recording and performing artists, as well as composers and other industry players, have complimented the conference for being relevant, engaging and thought-provoking. There was a strong focus on the business side of music, which elevated this event above a mere talk shop: they left with useful, practical information that will undoubtedly be of immense value in their various professional ventures.” However the Best Outcome of all was the establishment of a “High Level Music Forum” to address issues, which will only build on the conference’s mission statement which is to, “To build a sustainable Entertainment career for Creative Talent whilst fostering the common good of the South African Entertainment Industry”.

“Creating a sustainable model which supports the outcomes coming from the Music Exchange Conference was therefore a critical component that would only see More Positive results coming from the already Successful and Insightful Music Exchange program” noted Martin Myers Founder of Music Exchange.

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What an experience I had!

I thank you for inviting me to be a part of such an awesome event and look forward to being on board with you and God willing doing a workshop or two next year myself.

I left the conference feeling much more positive about this industry which I am so passionate about and see real opportunities to contribute in an even bigger way to heal it.

Once again, thank you to you all for a brilliant and heart- warming experience!

Vicky Sampson

As a young, up-and-coming musician I was humbled to attend one of the most informative music conferences in South Africa this past weekend. From the 21st-23rd of March, the Cape Town City Hall transformed into the venue for the Music Exchange Conference. Wet-behind-the-ears as I am when it comes to the South African music industry, I was incredibly enthusiastic about what could transpire. Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, Peter Lacey and Martin Myers – organisers of the conference – see it as a way to educate musicians and give them a chance to interact with some of the most successful artists in South Africa and abroad. These are artists who have enjoyed longevity in an industry that is known for being uncertain and fickle.

Many of the established artists and key-note speakers shared the same sentiments when it came to tips on how to get the most out of the gathering. For example: During the 10-minute breaks you get throughout the talks, instead of catching a smoke, rather use this time to bug the relevant people. Hand out demos, find out about your rights from legal representatives. Share your concerns with SAMRO (South African Music Rights Organisation) and get advice on your image from image consultants. You are a brand, so act accordingly.

So as day-3 approached I was already amped up. I could not have anticipated, however, meeting one the most respected international DJ’s and producers, Charles Webster, who held an interactive DJ workshop on Saturday. I mean, this is the man who has sold more than 180 000 albums without ever being considered mainstream and DJ’d world-wide in every continent. Tamara, Live’s Video Journalism Mentor (also from the UK) introduced me to Mr Webster. He invited me to contribute on a track he was about to mix on stage. I said yes, unaware of what I was really getting myself into. I’ve been a vocalist and song-writer for a while now (mainly working on house tracks), but the exhilaration that comes with being on stage never gets old. I chatted to Mr Webster briefly and found him to be refreshingly unassuming.

Read more at Live Mag The music exchange experience.

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The Rolling Stone session at Music Exchange 2013 was surely the highlight inside Day 2 of Music Exchange 2013, Africa’s Premiere Music Conference held in it’s #1 location, The City of Cape Town, South Africa. The conference, in its 3rd year, was an eclectic display of information for the expert and novice alike. Rolling Stone Magazine stole the show on Day 2, with a panel of journalists and executives, dedicated to motivating the music community in SA.

Miles Keylock, the Editor in Chief, and leader of Rolling Stone’s quest to energize the Artist community to reinvent itself, left the conference with his reason; “Its Because I Give a Shit”. And judging by the emergence of Rolling Stone Magazine as the most important music publication in SA history, Keylock’s bold vision is not far

]]> https://musicexchangesa.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/rolling-stone-challenges-music-industry-at-music-exchange-2013/feed/ 0 1394 -33.923776 18.423345 -33.923776 18.423345 triplement Music Exchange https://musicexchangesa.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/sa-music-comes-up-trumps-at-music-exchange-2013/ https://musicexchangesa.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/sa-music-comes-up-trumps-at-music-exchange-2013/#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:23:20 +0000 http://musicexchange.co.za/?p=1228 South African music is entering an exciting era of opportunity and progress as new markets open up for homegrown sounds. This was one of the key messages emerging from the 2013 Music Exchange Conference, which saw industry moguls and musicians congregating at the iconic Cape Town City Hall to talk about the serious business of music.

For three days, from 21 to 23 March 2013, the City Hall was abuzz with the sound of music – with a full programme of workshops and panel discussions on making it, marketing it, getting it heard on various platforms and ensuring that it moves with the times.

This independent music conference, now in its third year, attracted hundreds of experts and delegates from across the music spectrum – from composers and publishers to record company executives and media – to share knowledge and ideas, network, perform live showcases and identify opportunities to boost South African music locally, regionally and abroad.

Among the high-profile music creators spotted at the conference were Vicky Sampson, Mynie Grové, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, RJ Benjamin, Chad Saaiman, Jimmy Nevis, Mark Haze, Dub Masta China and Arno Carstens, as well as industry heavyweights such as Universal Music A&R consultant Benjy Mudie, Cape Town Jazz festival founder Rashid Lombard and Rolling Stone SA editor-in-chief Miles Keylock.

The international speakers on the programme included acclaimed house music producer and remixer Charles Webster (UK), music promoter Doug Davenport (USA) and Africori CEO Yoel Kenan (France).

One of the conference’s undisputed highlights was the keynote address by Trevor Jones, moderated by Universal Records managing director Randall Abrahams. Now based in the UK, Jones was born in District Six and is considered one of the top five film score composers in the world, with several Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations as well two ASCAP Awards in the bag.

Jones has made an indelible mark on the global entertainment industry, scoring international blockbusters such as Notting Hill, The Last of the Mohicans, Mississippi Burning and The Mighty and working with the likes of U2, Sting, David Bowie, Sinead O’Connor, Britney Spears, Elvis Costello and Charlotte Church.

Jones became overcome with emotion after being given a standing ovation by delegates, who warmly welcomed him back home.

During his inspirational talk, he spoke about the importance of music education and his desire to give something back to South African music industry: “Key to South Africa’s success is hard work and building a positive perception of our country and us a nation,” he said.

Award-winning local singer, songwriter and guitarist Arno Carstens, who spoke at the conference about the song that made him famous, said it was an honour to be part of Music Exchange and it was encouraging and inspiring to see so many enthusiastic people attend and share their experiences and knowledge.

Joining Carstens on the stellar line-up of artists speaking about the song that made them famous, Vicky Sampson acknowledged songwriter Alan Lazar (formerly of Mango Groove, and now a successful composer based in Los Angeles), who wrote African Dream. “I am grateful that Alan gave me the song and did not pass me up for Mango Groove’s Claire Johnston,” Sampson quipped. She spent every minute of the conference absorbing and learning, as well as reconnecting with her mentor Benjy Mudie and her old friend RJ Benjamin.

Versatile singer, composer and teacher Benjamin, who has been invited to be a vocal coach for the upcoming season of Idols and will be composing SABC2’s new signature tune, continuously urged delegates to make use of social media platforms to reach new audiences. Benjamin stood out as one of the speakers to whom delegates were drawn and his presentations proved to be extremely popular.

After the weekend’s proceedings wrapped up, local music legend Hotstix tweeted: “What a conference; what great speakers and delegates – wow!”

Added a delighted Music Exchange founder and board member, Martin Myers: “We have been completely overwhelmed by the positive feedback we’ve received, and the animated conversations on social media platforms about the success of Music Exchange.

“Recording and performing artists, as well as composers and other industry players, have complimented the conference for being relevant, engaging and thought-provoking. There was a strong focus on the business side of music, which elevated this event above a mere talk shop: they left with useful, practical information that will undoubtedly be of immense value in their various professional ventures.”

Visit www.musicexchange.co.za to find out more about next year’s Music Exchange conference, or follow @musicexchange on Twitter.

Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Music Exchange – www.musicexchange.co.za