The DownTown music hub is a piece of Johannesburg's cultural history
The DownTown Music Hub (DTMH), situated in the heart of Johannesburg’s evolving central business district (CBD), is so much more than just a studio or rehearsal space. It’s a recording studio, a venue, a training and development resource and an incubation node for startups in the music industry. It is a space with unique features and a remarkable heritage that inspires and ignites the musical soul of the city.
According to Lebo Ramoreboli, deputy director, integrated regional economic development, City of Johannesburg, this initiative is critical for the creation of wall-to-wall precincts and its proximity will contribute to the development of the Creative Corridor along Main and Fox Streets.
“DownTown Studios started out in 1979 as RPM Recording Studios and it proudly flies the flag as one of the oldest surviving big recording studios in Johannesburg,” says Chola Makgamathe, chief executive of DTMH. “It offers artists a truly inspirational and openly creative space and has done so for decades.”
The hub has hosted some of South Africa’s greatest musicians as they’ve crafted their classic recordings. From Miriam Makeba to Hugh Masekela and Lucky Dube, just to name a few, the DTMH has recorded them all. Nurturing genres as diverse as kwaito, hip hop, jazz, rock and bubblegum pop while providing for artists from all backgrounds, the hub was a safe and creative haven during the political upheavals of the 1980s.
This unique recording pedigree has placed the studio in the privileged position of housing one of the most comprehensive and important archives of South African music memorabilia. Under the banner of the DownTown Museum of South African Music, the department of arts and culture initiated a permanent and evolving exhibition featuring ephemera from costumes to photographs and tapes, offering visitors the chance to engage with the full spectrum of South Africa’s incredible musical output.
In addition to the permanent exhibition, the DTMH has also established a mobile recording initiative geared towards new documentation and the preservation of South Africa’s shared cultural heritage. This means that the museum is constantly updated with dynamic and exciting cultural content.
In 2015, the DTMH underwent an extensive revamp, which has transformed the space from a dedicated recording and rehearsal facility into a unique space providing a catalyst for developing local talent. The studios are equipped with a diverse inventory of both modern and classic recording equipment and have attracted award-winning producers and engineers from all over the continent, all ready to create the next generation of unforgettable hits.
The DownTown Music Hub stands as a central meeting point for Johannesburg’s creative community and as a platform for job creating business networks that support a vibrant and sustainable music industry. Thanks to the new design, the Hub can now host music industry workshops, masterclasses and events where newcomers can interact with experienced musicians and producers. Every detail is created to encourage collaboration, growth and learning.
For the DTMH it is essential that it plays a role as caretaker of a comprehensive music industry and information research facility. South African musicians can work with other African creatives and the space has become highly sought after at an international level.
“The DownTown Music Hub remains one of the best recording studios in the country and one of the very few South African complexes with the space to properly record choirs, brass bands and large ensembles for everything from albums to soundtrack scores,” concludes Makgamathe. “These studios give artists the opportunity to play together in the studio, recording in the time-honoured fashion that captures the essence of band dynamics.”
Music is in the walls of the DTMH, and it should remain a space where today’s artists can record their hits in the home of their heroes and enjoy the memories of yesterday in a space created for the musicians of today.