Beat Bulletin September 2015

Welcome to another edition of Beat Bulletin. Spring has sprung and in true form South Africa has been abuzz with a plethora of live music, arts and entertainment.

This is also a very important time for SAMRO, as we look forward to the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) in November 2015. In this issue we focus on the call for SAMRO Board of Directors nominations.  SAMRO members are invited to nominate their candidate of choice to serve on the SAMRO Board.

In celebration of Heritage month we profile an exciting new artist, David ‘Qadasi’ Jenkins a talented maskandi musician from Durban, who is fast taking the reins from the likes of the legendary Johnny Clegg in the world of indigenous isiZulu music.

We also caught up with one of the hottest hip-hop artists in South Africa at the moment, Reason. We chat to him about the importance of managing his brand as a business, the lessons learned since delving into the mainstream music game, to his thought provoking posts on social media.

As the temperature rises, more people will be looking to organise an event or a gig. In this issue we take a look at what it takes to organise an event and what one must do in order to ensure that it goes off without a glitch.

It’s that time again for the announcement of this year’s ImpACT Awards finalists and as one of the category sponsors, SAMRO was at the launch to support them all.  Read on to find out what went down and who this year’s finalists are.

Don’t forget to check out major events lined up for the month of October. We are approaching summer and there are many great activities that will be taking place throughout the country. So, if you love going out, it is worth seeing what we have compiled for the month of October.

 

Yours in Music!

Tiyani Maluleke

GM: Marketing

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS OF THE SAMRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Leading up to its Annual General Meeting (AGM) the Southern African Music Rights Organisation NPC (SAMRO) invites members to submit their nominations for the organisation’s Board of Directors.

SAMRO members are hereby given notice that the call for Board of Director nominations are now open from, 29 September and  will close on 12 October 2015 at 16h00.

Prior to submitting their nominations, SAMRO members are encouraged to make an informed decision by familiarising themselves with the criteria processes and requirements for one to be eligible for a nomination. Once the nominators have familiarised themselves with the submission procedures, they will be required to complete a nomination form which will have to be sent back to SAMRO.

In nominating a candidate to serve in the SAMRO Board of Directors, it is important to select a nominee that meets the legislative requirements in terms of the Companies Act of South Africa. The nominee submitted must also have the ability to act in the best interests of the organisation and its members.

It’s important to note that only an individual who is a full member of SAMRO can be nominated to serve in the Board of Directors. A non-member will only be considered in the exceptional case where the individual possesses special knowledge, skills and/or experience relevant to performing the role and functions of a Director.

The ideal candidate should have in-depth knowledge of the music industry and must be influential in the music industry, demonstrating an understanding of music copyright.

They must also have an understanding of the regulatory framework in which the music industry operates and general knowledge of SAMRO as a royalty collecting society.

For any queries, question or further information please contact the Group Company Secretary by sending an email to secretary@samro.org.za or call 011 712 8000.

Nominations for the SAMRO Board of Directors will close on Monday, 12 October 2015 at 16h00.  No late nominations will be accepted.

To download the applicable forms click here

THE HIP-HOP VOICE OF REASON!

Sizwe Moeketsi known to his fans as Reason, is one of South Africa’s hottest rappers whose respect for craft of lyricism keeps him at the forefront of the hip-hop game.

Even though he has become a household name in the rap world, Reason still strives to up the ante and represent the roots of hip hop culture to the fullest.

From humble beginnings, Reason got his first big break as a voice over artist to a freestyle jingle on youth radio station Y FM, on The Unrestricted Fresh Breakfast Show in 2005. He then went on demolish the competition by winning the 2006 Rap Activity Jam competition.

“My journey so far in the music industry has never been smooth sailing but, I’ve worked really hard over the years and things have certainly gotten better.  Becoming a millionaire is easy, if you can find a million people to give you a R1 each (laughs) that’s something I have been working on.  I’ve worked hard over the past decade to make a name for myself, but that’s not enough.”

The talented rapper says that when he first entered the music world it was purely for the love of hip-hop music and the culture around it. But over time he has learned to treat his passion for music as a business. He has made it his business over the years to learn as much as he can about the various aspects of the music industry and how it can impact on his career in music.

One of the biggest learning curves for him he says had to do with the premature signing of contracts in the past which resulted in him making bad business decisions.

“I’ve made uninformed decisions about my career in the past but what’s important to me is that I learned from those moments and made the necessary changes in a quest to stay on top my game. I’ve also learned to surround myself with experts I can trust to help me with things like reading contracts, bookings and negotiating deals.”

An integral part of the talented rapper’s quest to ensure that he handles the business of his music he says is his relationship with SAMRO. “Notifying your music with SAMRO is the most important thing as an artist because by doing so you are also protecting your intellectual property. It’s great to know that SAMRO will protect the copyright of my creative work and pay me what is due to me.”

For the Endurance hit maker, the secret to his success has to do with observing how those in the forefront of music do things – something he calls, “library education”.

Not one to shy away from voicing his opinions Reason caused quite a stir on social media recently when he posted the cover artwork from his forthcoming album, Reazus Christ Is Cummin? The album cover artwork depicts an image of Jesus wearing sunglasses and carrying two naked women over his shoulders. Needless to say, he was faced with some backlash from his Christian fans and members of the public, who were insulted by it and felt it was a step too far.

Defending this move, the talented rapper stated that the image was created to stimulate dialogue and conversation but that people didn’t get that.

“I was expecting more music publications and channels to have a conversation with me about the sleeve and what it means. But instead, the artwork went beyond that. At the end, it was quite sad because people took it out of context and when I explained to the media what I was trying to communicate through the image, the controversy quickly vanished. There was no dialogue beyond that. ”

Aside from the controversy, Reason keeps building from strength to strength and he credits the relationships he has forged over the years for getting his music used in different platforms including on the film, Otele Balance.

Through it all his persistence and hard work continue to help him rise to the top and separates him from the pack.

ACT ANNOUNCES 2015 IMPACT AWARDS FINALISTS

To mark the 18th year of the prestigious ACT Awards, South Africa’s premier independent arts funding and development agency, will pay homage to both young and old artists.

To date, the ACT Awards have recognised over 140 individuals and organisations for their significant contribution to art, culture and heritage in South Africa. These awards show the sustainable impact ACT pursues in the creative industry. 2015 will be the fifth year that ACT’s partnership with the Distell Foundation will see yet another group of young professionals being lauded for the remarkable impression they have made in the first five years of their careers.

ACT CEO Pieter Jacobs says: “The ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals highlight exceptional talent in the industry. This spotlight creates a platform for these young individuals who might not otherwise receive this kind of recognition – recognition that has the potential to powerfully propel sustainable careers in a highly competitive industry.”

With the Distell Foundation’s support, the ImpACT Awards for young professionals are given annually to honour young artists or businesses that have reached a notable level in their career. Giving the masses a voice through the public nomination process, ACT proudly boasts an excellent selection of these individuals in the categories of Theatre, Visual Art, Design and Music & Singing, and the newly-added Dance category.

“The Distell Foundation is proud to invest in young professionals thus assisting them to catapult their careers in the creative arts industry. We wish them success in growing their individual talent and businesses,” says Irma Albers from Distell.

This year’s ImpACT Awards finalists include an array of talented creatives ranging from graphic and interior designers, dancers, visual artists, curators and entrepreneurs; to singers, songwriters and musicians; and playwrights, actors and directors. Every year the variety in skill and talent make the judging process even tougher, and this year is no exception. Each winner will receive a cash prize of R2 000, a certificate, a spread in Creative Feel Magazine worth over R30 000 and additional PR opportunities that will be generated through the ACT Awards. ImpACT Award recipients will also get ongoing backing from ACT in the form promotional support in their professional careers.

The judges for this year’s competition include: musician Sibongile Khumalo, Fine Arts and Arts Education Professor David Andrew, choreographer Jayesperi Moopen, actress Warona Seane and arts and culture development expert and consultant David Thatanelo April. Convenor of the judging panel and ACT Trustee, Moopen says: “The criteria we used as a panel was to honour artistic achievement and the impact of that concept and its aesthetic quality demonstrating talent, determination, imagination and risks.”

The cornerstone of the ACT Awards is the presentation of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards for Visual Arts, Theatre, Arts Advocacy, Music and Literature. Lifetime Achievement Award winners are nominated and selected by the ACT Board of Trustees, the recipient is someone that the sponsors are proud to acknowledge for their contribution to the arts.

The judges specifically choose winners who stand out due to the artistic excellence of their work; their experience in the industry and the impact this has had on their community and the commerce of the creative industry as a whole. The Lifetime Achievement Award winners will each receive R30 000 cash prize, totalling an impressive R750 000 since 2008.

This year, in addition to the five existing Lifetime Achievement Award categories, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) have come on board to support the introduction of the Dance Lifetime Achievement Award. “JTI is thrilled to have partnered with ACT in introducing this award. Dance is perhaps the most under-recognised and un-awarded of the arts disciplines. South Africa’s dancers and choreographers make a profound contribution to the local and international dance landscape and we thank ACT for affording JTI the opportunity to give them the recognition they so richly deserve,” says Corporate Affairs and Legal Director for JTI Lizette Rau.

The 2015 ImpACT Awards are presented in partnership with the Distell Foundation and Sun International. The ACT Lifetime Achievement Awards are presented in partnership with Nedbank Arts Affinity, Media24 Books, DALRO, JTI, Creative Feel Magazine and SAMRO.

The Awards ceremony will take place on 2 November 2015 at Sun International’s The Maslow in Sandton, Johannesburg. For more information visit www.act.org.za

 

2015 ImpACT Awards Finalists

DANCE FINALISTS

Angelique Harris

Letlhogonolo Nche.

Sunnyboy  

 

DESIGN FINALISTS

Laurie Wiid van Heerden

Sphiwe Giba

Shawn Lukas  

 

MUSIC & SINGING FINALISTS

Lindiwe

Tumi Mogorosi

Thandi Ntuli  

 

THEATRE FINALISTS

Quintin Wils

Thenx

POPArt   

 

VISUAL ARTS FINALISTS

Fortune Bengu

Benon Lutaaya

Loyiso Mkize

DAVID ‘QADASI’ JENKINS – BIRTH OF THE “NEW WHITE ZULU”

David ‘Qadasi’ Jenkins is a talented maskandi musician who developed a deep passion for isiZulu culture and music at an early age.

This Heritage month we recently caught up with the “new white Zulu” to talk about how he fell in love with a music genre that is mainly associated with black South African culture.

Q. Who is David Jenkins and where did your love for maskandi music come from?

A. I am a traditional maskandi musician based in Durban. Growing up in Empangeni, Kwazulu Natal, my love for traditional isiZulu music developed at a young age through my immense passion and interest in isiZulu culture.

Q. How did you learn to play this complex genre of music?

A. I’m a self-taught musician having taught myself to play the isiZulu guitar and the concertina. As my passion and skills developed, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a professional maskandi artist.

Q. What are some of the challenges you’ve been faced with as a white person in the maskandi world?

A. Maskandi music is not a genre one would expect to see a young white guy playing. Audiences are often curious and intrigued by my live performances. There are always sceptics but in general the public has been incredibly supportive over the years, which I am extremely grateful for.

Q. You are also a guitarist, how important is it to be able play a musical instrument as a maskandi artist?

A. I think it’s great to see artists who are also able to play instruments, however that doesn’t take anything away from talented artists who don’t. Playing the isiZulu guitar and the concertina is a very important part of my music.  I am very grateful and proud in my ability to play them both.

Q. You have performed in many places, including your tour of Ireland, how has the experience been?

A. I love being able to experience different parts of the world with different cultures. To date I’ve made some amazing memories in the USA, Ireland and especially SA. I have since developed a real passion for travel and look forward to new journeys and experiences here at home and abroad.

Q. Where do you draw your inspirations for new songs?

A. I am inspired by general life experiences and current issues in South African and the rest of the world.

Although the music industry is incredibly tough and has many challenges, my deep passion for traditional isiZulu music and the continued support of my loyal fans keeps me going.

Q. So, what are the crucial lessons you have learned as a musician?

A. It’s been an interesting few years getting to grips with the music industry. There are many layers to it, and I’ve learnt that it’s important to be patient, accept criticism, rehearse and hone your skills and treat this not only as a passion, but also a profession.

Q. We live in a digital era where marketing yourself online has become a trend that many are embracing. Do you see a need to use the Internet to expand your reach?

A. I definitely think the Internet is incredibly important to help one reach out to the world and expand one’s following. If social media and online advertising is used effectively, this can have a very positive impact on your career.

Q. You are a SAMRO member, how important is this for you?

A. As a recording artist, there is most definitely a need for SAMRO. It is very important to have my song’s rights’ formerly dealt with and to ensure that royalties are paid accordingly.

PLANNING AN EVENT? HERE’S WHAT IT TAKES TO ORGANISE IT

Organising an event takes a lot of effort, time and money. Whether it’s a music gig or festival, all events need hard work and people power.

Before you start with organising your event, you need to give yourself enough time for proper planning and ensure that every little detail is attended to, to ensure the event runs smoothly and successfully.

Firstly, before you start getting busy with the more stressing event aspects, you need to decide on the kind of event you would like to organise, date, venue. You will also need to come up with a concept for the event , the purpose of the event, how many people you aim to attract and whether it will be a charged (how much you will charge patrons), if charged how will people buy tickets or if it’s a free event.

Truth is, you can’t do it all, so you will need to get a team that you can delegate some of the responsibilities to. Depending on the nature of your event, you will need a hands-on team.

To make the best use of your team, you’ll need a clear and detailed plan. Below is a list that covers what you are most likely going to need:

• Budget and or funding

• Master of Ceremony (M.C.)

• Performers (artists and DJs)

• Technical equipment (PA sound, Stage, lighting and sound engineers)

• Food and drink

• Security and safety plan

• Rosters and staffing

• Permits and permissions

• Security,

• Risk assessment

• Catering

• Publicity

• Parking and transport to and from the venue

• Toilet facilities

• Clean-up

• Road closures which the municipality of where you are hosting the event will assist with.

 

The more detailed your plan is, the less likely something will go wrong. On the day of the event, there will obviously be a lot happening but there are some key things to remember:

• Make sure that the venue is set up the day before or early on the day of the event, depending on the size of your event.

• Make sure that some of your team members are on the location well before anything starts to facilitate the set up and help out in case of emergencies.

• Check constantly with all suppliers (caterers, technical support, PR agency etc.) to make sure that they are on the same page with your team.

• Make sure any performers and DJ’s come early to do a sound check

 

After the event, your job is not done. You need to tie up any loose ends like securing post event media coverage, formally thanking guests, checking that everything is paid and returning or cleaning equipment used (if the contract with service provider stipulates so).

It’s also important to meet with your suppliers and the rest of the team to review the event, take stock of what worked and what didn’t.  This will ensure that you can learn from any mistakes in order to make your next event even more of a success. Remember to thank your team on a job well done, if they carried their duties well

SAMRO CEO – SIPHO DLAMINI SPEAKS AT THE 2015 SEAEXPO

The 2015 SEAExpo hosted at Museum Africa in Newtown, Johannesburg brought together some of Africa’s greatest creative talents from all the sectors of the arts.

The aim of the SEAExpo is to put arts and entertainment under the spotlight. Over the course of the two day exhibition and conference speakers, exhibitors, performing artists, talent managers, entertainment executives, media and some of the continent’s most beloved showbiz personalities gathered at Museum Africa.

This year, performers had the chance to meet current and rising stars across the industry, while networking and learning. Coaches, workshops, panel discussions, industry experts, mentorships, exhibitions and entertainment were just part of what attendees had a chance to enjoy.

Featured at this year’s expo was a panel discussion including SAMRO CEO, Sipho Dlamini with the theme, My Art, My Rights, My Business. During this panel discussion, Dlamini said it is vital for SAMRO to be more accessible so that music creators can talk to the collecting society whenever they want more information. “It is important to give people that office space to go in, ask questions, get more information and understand more about their role as composers or publishers.”

Visitors were also able to immerse in the thrilling world of entertainment, while learning more about the business side of the industry and its many different facets.

On both days of the event, live performances took place, ensuring enough activities for visitors as well as conference-goers. Interested talents were given an opportunity to showcase their craft live on stage by submitting demos on the SEAexpo website.

“I came here (SEAexpo) not knowing what to expect, only to find that entertainment industry talent is really a business. A sterling job to the organisers!” says Mteto Nyati, Former Microsoft Managing Director and current MTN Chief Enterprise Officer.

Exhibitors and sponsors were able to engage with new audiences, promoting their brands and reaching specialist markets within the entertainment industry.

SAMRO GIG GUIDE

Spring is well and under way… Here’s a look at all the upcoming events for the month of October and remember to keep supporting live events!

Macufe Tshepe Hip Hop 

Venue: Macufe Dome, Bloemfontein

Date: 2 October 2015

Fee: R100 General

 

Ekurhuleni Spring Fiesta 2015

Venue: Wild Waters Complex, 1 Margaret Lane, Bardene, 1459 Boksburg

Date: 3 October 2015

Fee: R300 General | R600 VIP | R1000 VVIP

 

Phalaborwa Spring Carnival Festival

Venue: Impala Park Stadium

Date: 3 October 2015

Fee: R110 General | R350 VIP

 

Macufe Gospel Concert

Venue: Macufe Dome, Bloemfontein

Date: 4 October 2015

Fee: R150 General

 

Nie as ek sing nie

Venue: Kyknet-Ouditorium

Date: 7 October 2015

Fee: R140

 

The Parlotones

Venue: Sun City Amphitheatre

Date: 8 October 2015

Fee: R150 General

 

SMOKIE – The Anthology Tour

Venue: Liqui – Fruit Amphitheatre, Paarl – Western Cape and Carnival City, Big Top Arena, Johannesburg

Date: 09 – 10 October 2015

Fee: R350 General | R540 VIP

 

Macufe Cultural Festival

Venue: Free State Stadium, Horak avenue, 9301 Bloemfontein, Free State

Date: 10 October 2015

 

Soweto Gospel Choir Vosloorus

Venue: Vosloorus Civic Centre

Date: 10 October 2015

Fee: R100

 

Jack Daniel`s Boomtown

Venue: Zoo Lake Sports Club

Date: 17 October 2015

Fee: R490 General | R1700 VIP

 

Cama Gwini Live

Venue: Goldfields Casino Hall, Welkom

Date: 17 October 2015

Fee: R3000 General

 

Jazz And African Music Nights

Venue: S A State Theatre, Rendezvous

Date: 18 October 2015

Fee: R100

 

8 KZN Philharmonic – Madlala

Venue: City Hall, Durban

Date: 22 October 2015

Fee: R55 General | R220 Left Side Circle

 

Eluveitie SA Tour 

Venue: Bassline, 10 Henry Nxumalo Street and The Assembly, Cape Town

Date: 23 – 25 October 2015

Fee: R500

 

Rock The City Tshwane Summer Festival

Venue: Ga-Mothakga Resort Atteridgeville

Date: 24 October 2015

Fee: R200 General | R1000 VIP

 

Windhoek Draught Live with Boyz II Men & Joe Thomas

Venue: City Hall, Durban

Date: 30 October 2015

Fee: R300 General | R3000 Golden Circle

 

Maftown Beer Festival

Venue: Mmabatho Stadium, North West Province

Date: 31 October 2015

Fee: R100 General | R300 VIP | R1000 VVIP

 

Fill Up The Dome

Venue: Coca-Cola Dome, North Riding, Johannesburg

Date: 31 October 2015

Fee: R350

 

Vaal Beach Experience 2015

Venue: Dickinson Park, Vereeniging

Date: 31 October 2015

Fee: R150 General | R500 VIP

 

Mbombela Beach Festival

Venue: Mbombela Stadium

Date: 31 October 2015

Fee: R100 General | R1000 VIP

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