DAVID KRAMER TO DELIVER MEX19 KEYNOTE ADDRESS

MUSIC EXCHANGE (#MEX19), South Africa’s only entertainment-economy-focused conference, returns to Cape Town for the ninth time from 13 to 15 September 2019 at the impressive Radisson Red Hotel at the V &A Waterfront.

Stage and recording artist icon, David Kramer has confirmed he will deliver the keynote address at MEX19. Famous for his Broadway and West End exports, Kat & The Kings, District 6 and the upcoming Danger In the Dark production debuting at The Baxter in Cape Town from 11 October, MEX19 is set to be a weekend of note.

Music Exchange was also honoured and recognised by the Western Cape Government for its contribution to Arts and Culture in March; and this year’s conference will have an overarching theme of “rights “.

Starting on Friday 13 September, at 2pm,  MEX19 will officially open with the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association (Capasso), before moving onto the South African Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA), as well as the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) – all three major collecting agencies in the country – who will share the podium at the country’s only annual conference that seeks to empower South Africa’s entertainment economy.

Over the following two days, attending delegates can look forward to more than 19 talks and panels over the three day emersion. All with the aim of empowering each with practical knowledge to apply to their careers.

Other highlights include:

·      MEX19 keynote speaker, David Kramer

·      CEO of Just Music, Charles Kuhn, and Head of A&R Matthew Fink 

·      Lance Stehr , Head of Muthland Records 

·      Steve Werner, Station Manager at KFM 

·      Sotiris Moldovanos at music streaming service, Deezer 

·      Music reality show panel , hosted by RJ Benjamin, along with:

Paxton Fielies - Idols 2017 Winner

Lize Mynhardt - Idols 2014 Second runner up

Robin Pieters - TVSA 2016 Round 5 contender

Sasha-Lee - Idols 2009 Joint winner

PJ Twins - TVSA 2019 Top 5 finalist, SA Got Talent runner up

Amy Tsjasink - TVSA 2019 Semi-finalist

Elwira Standili - Idols 2015 Top 8 Finalist

David Januari - X-Factor SA 2014 winning group ‘Four’

With MUSIC EXCHANGE now well-and-truly established and respected – thanks to the incredible support from some of the world’s biggest names in production, song writing, composition, management, PR, digital strategy and live performance – MEX19 is excited to announce more of the same in the build up to its biggest weekend yet.

City of Cape Town’s Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, says, “As a host city and a proud sponsor of the Music Exchange conference, the City is really looking forward to welcoming the delegates and the participants to the world’s leading festival and event destination. Cape Town has a diverse musical offering and it’s the perfect place to host an event which celebrates musical diversity. This event will also provide an a platform to young up and coming artists through coaching clinics, as well as developmental workshops ,and the City is always proud to support initiatives that provide opportunities to our residents.”

Martin Myers, founder and convenor of the conference, remarked, “This year MEX is delighted to have the key decision makers of some of the most important music bodies in South Africa attending”.

Artists include Chad Saaiman and MEX chairperson, the legend Sipho Mabuse. Booking agents and promoters Nikki Froneman, Jarrod Aston , Lesley Wells, Craig Parks and Lauren Parks will also be sharing their knowledge, along with community radio specialist Selwyn Bartlett. MEX19 will also welcome back longstanding partners Paul Bothner Music to the fold.

Digital monetisation and understanding your rights, be it legal (including what a proper legal contract looks like and how to navigate the small claims court), or rights in the digital economy, all also will be unpacked, demystified and opportunities explored at MEX19.

With more speakers and events to be announced over the coming week, in the build-up to MEX19, follow us on Facebook to get breaking announcements, as they happen.

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 learning’s every delegate can actively apply and benefit from, MEX19 is the creative hub responsible for bringing it all together.

Limited delegates tickets for MEX19 are available now through Quicket.

Full conference tickets, for all days, cost R500 including lunch on Saturday and Sunday