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The South African music scene is entering an exciting and fresh time where opportunity is endless. Whether it is to grow as an artist or to step into the music business as a newcomer. The 2013 Music Exchange Conference had these major themes as its main platform for workshops and panel discussions this year. Held at the iconic Cape Town City Hall the conference was packed with music experts, as well as artists, all hungry to share the business of music.


From 21 to 23 March 2013, the City Hall was transformed into any music lovers paradise. The much anticipated Music Exchange offered a with a full programme filled with workshops and discussions on how to make it in the music industry, marketing yourself and anything else you might need to get yourself a step forward in the music industry. The conference was the perfect opportunity to share industry wisdom and to get advice from professionals.



Music Exchange is an independent music conference and now in its third year. 70 speakers and panelists, made out of 16 artists and 42 organisations, including a panel of experts from SAMRO, were all present to offer a wealth of music knowledge from music licensing, copyright to tips on anything and everything music related.










This year the conference saw professionals from composers and publishers to record company executives and media, all sharing their knowledge and ideas. The conference created the opportunity to network with big names and set a platform filled with opportunities to boost the South African music locally and internationally.



At the launch Shadowclub showed everyone why they are one of the biggest
names in the South African music scene. They performed to an intimate
crowd and their performance definitely opened the conference with a
highlight.






 Some admired experts attending the conference included 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.



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.

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.”



For anyone who wants to make it in the music industry, improve themselves or just want to increase their knowledge, we recommend you attend Music Exchange 2014. Definitely worth attending this conference.












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





Contact me: eliinthecity@gmail.com