Its now a forgone conclusion that South African dance music has infected the whole world with a number of local names making international charts week in, week out.
Dancefloors in France, Portugal, The UK, Japan and many international countries move in unison to the South African beat. Also, a month doesn’t go by without international dance names such as Louie Vega, Rocco, Franck Roger, Ralf Gum and many more appearing at a number of local events, with names such as Harrison Crump now basically living here to rub off from our talented practitioners.
With that in mind, it comes with great excitement that DJU once again hosts the annual Southern African Music Conference (SAMC), from 02-05 July, at Durban’s Olive Convention centre. This is that time of the year where budding music names, deejays and experienced artists, producers, decks masters and music executives share ideas to further our Southern Africa’s world music domination.
This year’s top speakers include:
– Byron Stingly
– Ralf Gum
– Rocco
– DJ Black Coffee
– DJU’s Fresh
– Vinny
– Christos
– Oskido, and Greg Maloka.
Organisations such as SAMRO (South African music rights organisation) will also be represented.
The event’s main sponsors include the Department of Arts and Culture, NYDA, and Metro FM and SABC1 being the media partners.
This year’s event will concentrate a bit more on developing music practirioners through smaller groups through “a lot of breakaway rooms to address the delegates in smaller groups”. This is a new element in the SAMC’s program “that will see delegates expected to present on what they will be taking out of the conference in order to measure how relevant the information was for them and what they would like to see in the following year”.
On top of the usual signifcant topics including marketing oneself in the music industry, contractual information, running music as a business, “new topics will be around enterpreneurship, design (this plays a big role in brand building), editing (available for interested delegates), the significance of vocals in music, and how to run a bedroom studio as a business”.
Christos says the reason they are concentrating on the business aspect of music is because “DJU”s view is we have enough guys producing and Djing but how are they making their money”, hence the look into available business opportunities will play a big role in the 2012 conference.
The other major focal point is the vocal part in music. “We have most producers focusing on instrumental tracks and this is not getting airplay,” comments Christos (who has done work with Boom Shaka, DJs at Work, and remixed Mabrr (Weekend Special), Shana (Uyangichomela), Monique Bingham (You, me world) and more), adding, “so we will conduct major workshops on the importance of lyrics at SAMC 2012.
Vinny adds that another area of interest would be on “The Next Generation” mainly because of the huge inroads that these guys (especially youngsters from Polokwane, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, PE, Mbombela, Tshwane, Kimberly, East London, and everywhere else in the country) are making worldwide. “A lot of them are signing up deals with labels out there on their own without relevant knowledge. They need to be careful about how those deals are structured, hence The Business focus of things,” adds the legend.
“SABC1 is proud to announce its association with this year’s Southern African Music Conference as media partner,” says Dichaba Phalatse – SABC1 Portfolio Marketing Manager: Entertainment. “The Channel remains committed to playing a positive role in support of the development of the local music industry.”
METRO FM’s Marketing manager Kina Nhlengethwa says the radio station, which is just as responsible for exposing music talent, values and will always support empowering opportunities like the SAMC.
“METRO FM as a radio station plays a major role in the development of South African Music. These young artists, who attend the music conference, are METRO FM Listeners and they use the station as an example to set the standard of the music that they make.”
Of course the event closes off on a high with the star-studded Mother of All Parties on 07 July at Durban’s Ice Rink. The show features Black Cofee, DJU (Fresh, Oskido, The Maestro, Vinny, Christos), Vetkuk vs Mahoota, Bobsta, Ralf Gum, Rocco and many more DJs.
To participate at this year’s conference, wanna-be delegates should go to www.samc.dj to download entry forms. Entry is once again R300.
