MEX Endorses Empowerment
MEX chairperson and board member SIPHO “HOTSTIX” MABUSE is making a call to all musicians in South Africa to not only attend MEX18, on 1 and 2 September in Cape Town, but to all opportunities to cultivate the broader education in our collective music economy.
“As chairperson of MEX, which is now in its 8th year, I implore musicians, managers and all music business owners to attend the KZN Music Imbizo in Durban this week, and then MEX18 the week after,” Sipho implores. “We then have Moshito, in Gauteng, thereafter. If you are in one of these centres, get there! I raise this urgent call as we have a crisis in education around the local and global business of music.”
Sipho’s known and respected as someone open to sharing his experience, committed to empowering everyone in the industry that’s afforded him an extraordinary career. “I had a question the other day, from a music school graduate that floored me,” he shares. “Even with all of their class teaching this person questioned what was more important, a publisher or a publicist? That question scared me and drove home the fact that music conferences are a critical supplement to any text-book training.”
“It illustrates, with alarming accuracy, the lack of life-skill, real and applicable lessons from some of South Africa’s most established tertiary education institutions,” Sipho concludes. “This is where the likes of MEX, Moshito and the KZN Music Imbizo play a critical role in empowerment.”
MEX18 will play host to a truly global list of speakers and aggregators, the likes of SAMRO, DEEZER, RISA, THE ORCHARD, MAHOGANY and JOOX. Each is a critical local touch point in any career in music, all who will be active and participating at MEX18.
Add to that extraordinary partnerships and key international relationships, MEX18 welcomes back Abbey Rd Studio’s CHRISTIAN WRIGHT to the fold for a second time.
With MEX18’s focus around all things digital, including the streaming economy, CHRISTIAN, along with MAHOGANY’s MARK MURDOCH will be unpacking the relationships between record labels, managers and the audiences they each appeal to.
THE ORCHARD’s Vice-President (France, Benelux and West Africa) BEN OLDFIELD will also be flying in especially to talk at MEX18.
MUSIC EXCHANGE will also be hosting showcases. By attending MEX18 you will be in front of all three international speakers, as well as SA artists including RJ BENJAMIN and the keynote speakers, including publishers the calibre of DAVID ALEXANDER and JOHN FISHLOCK.
Whether you’re an established or ambitious young artist, publicist, producer, DJ, manager, venue owner, record label, agency or corporate brand looking to gain invaluable insight and learnings every delegate can actively apply and benefit from, MEX18 is the creative hub responsible for bringing it all together.
Digital monetisation in the new music economy, through to masterclasses dedicated to key disciplines, MEX18 will once again offer it all.
MEX18 will be hosted at the impressive Academy Of Sound Engineering studio complex, in District 6, as well as Sun Square, Mill Street, Gardens over the jam-packed two-day Imbizo.
With more speakers and events to be announced over the coming three weeks, in the build-up to MEX18, follow us on Facebook to get breaking announcements as they happen.
Limited delegates tickets for MEX18 are available now through Quicket.
- Day 1 – R300 BOOK NOW
- Day 2 – R300 BOOK NOW
- Day 1 & 2 – R400 (R500 normal price) if you BOOK NOW using the following promotional code: mex18-2-day-ticket
For booking details, and more information, go to: www.musicexchange.co.za
For interview opportunities contact: Martin Myers @ MEX on 083 448 4475