South Africa is set to host its first annual South African Music Week with the help of some friends from the Great White North. The two nations will partner on the first edition of the event to “build a robust cross-border music industry based on collaboration and making the most of ‘Music in the 4IR’”.
Inspired by Canadian Music Week, SAMW 2021 will see South Africa and Canada come together to explore ways in which to maximize how music, technology and business are converging, and to forge a new path for success for all musicians. SAMW is free to attend and will take place virtually in 2021 to take account of ensuing precautions around the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a reciprocal exchange, SAMW will aim to build skills and the capacity of the South African music industry as a whole, and for artists in both countries to discover new markets for their craft. At the same time, South Africa and Canada are looking to develop a mutually beneficial collaborative investment paradigm to grow the music economy, a by-product of which, could be travel and tourism opportunities between the two.
Themed ‘Music in the 4IR’, the 2021 event comprises three days of online panel discussions, a virtual expo, music performances, B2B networking and an industry Hall of Honours event.
For the SAMW team, the event is about supporting emerging talent as they make the world their stage.
“We are excited to write a new chapter for the South African music industry by bringing the world to our doorstep, using the digital age to unearth emerging talent and plugging it into a global audience”, says South African Music Week founder and CEO, Michael Moeti.
“Thanks to the phenomenal inspiring success of Master KG’s Jerusalema, South African talent is being recognized globally. SAMW is, therefore, the ideal platform from which to entrench this interest and build a robust cross-border music industry based on collaboration and making the most of music in the 4IR.”
SAMW is the result of a working visit that Moeti undertook to Canadian Music Week (CMW) in Toronto, Canada in May 2019 where SA was a spotlight at CMW and; a fact-finding mission to Canada in January 2020, which was led by Ms. Mbali Hlophe, MEC for Gauteng Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation. SAMW is a timely event that amplifies the new spirit of world community, to work together on creative solutions that benefit the whole.
Headed by Canada’s Province of Ontario in partnership with South Africa’s Gauteng Province, Canadian panelists include Neill Dixon, CEO Canadian Music Week; Mike Tanner, Music Programmer, City of Toronto; Jackie Dean, Interim Co-CEO of Music, Canada; Pierre-Louis Pinel, Canada Arts Council; Evelyn Cream,Marketing, Publicity, Artist Manager; Trisha Carter,Music Export Manager, CIMA; Cory Litwin, CEO, 2wenty 2wenty Music Group (Canada); Amara Nwogu, CEO, 8 Til Faint; Erin Ashley Lowen, Music Journalist and Digital Specialist; John Harris, CEO, Harris Institute; Margaret McGuffin, Executive Director; K23, Strategic Branding Agency; Marina Adam, Manager, Ontario Music Office; Thomas Beckman, Music Composer and Teacher; Vincent Degiorgio, CEO, Cumba Music Publishing.
Meanwhile, Canadian performers include a pair of Ottawa area artists in Joe Gez and Spitten Image, and Toronto hip-hop artist and Carleton University alumn, Vibebymelo. The trio will also appear on a brand new COVID-19 song, CORONA, set to be released during the conference. The song is a multinational collaboration is in acknowledgement of the pandemic, and the extra vigilance required by citizens of the world to do their bit to combat the spread of COVID-19.
South African Music Week runs from January 26-28th. For more information visit www.samw.co.za.
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