The South African music industry should test the limits of the international market place, delegates at the first industry conference were told in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The challenge was to transform the national industry into a trans-national one, said Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan at the opening of the three-day Moshito 04 conference in Sandton.
”Our government would like to see [the music industry] become more diversified, more global, and imbued with an entrepreneurial spirit that does not shirk from risk-taking.”
Jordan said the music industry, and other cultural industries, could play an important role in the economic revival of the African continent. ”Many veins of South Africa’s extremely rich cultural resources remain untapped,” he said.
Also at the conference was Kwaito star Kabelo Mabalane and EMI business affairs director Leslie Sedibe.
In his speech Sedibe said music sales had declined in the last four years, although sales of local music had increased. The industry was valued at R1-billion in 1999, but at only R700-million in 2003.
Sedibe said growing the local music industry was vital. ”We need to develop new talent, and not just in Gauteng.” The industry should look towards the African continent for export opportunities, he said.
Sedibe hailed Kabelo, who received a standing ovation at the conference, as an example of how music could transform lives. ”He is a courageous young man who formed part of that previously marginalised part of our society.”
Sedibe, together with Jordan, emphasised that developmental programmes to address past inequalities in human and cultural resources were essential. – Sapa