KUMISA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

• Do you wish you were part of a professional music association that recognises your talent and potential?
• Do you have big ambitions but limited resources?
• Are you an established artist climbing the ladder of success only to have found you’ve reached a glass ceiling?
• Or are you an ambitious musician struggling to break into a competitive market?
• Are you a photographer, graphic designer or clothes designer wishing to interact with the music industry?
• Do you have fencing or staging or lighting equipment available for hire?
• Are you a venue looking to host live music but do not know what is required and what legal requirements you need to fulfil?

The KwaZulu United Music Industry Association (Kumisa) is currently embarking on a large scale membership drive and is looking to recruit the province’s valued musicians and music industry service providers.

“As a music professional, you can enjoy the fruits of a thriving music industry without having to relocate to another province,” says the publicity material. “If you have a service that would be valuable to the provincial music industry, we seek your participation.”

Kumisa is a non-profit, regional music industry organisation created through a partnership between the eThekwini municipality’s Durban Film Office, operating under the auspices of the Economic Development Unit, and the provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism. It aims to serve and represent the interests of the music industry in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), nationally and internationally.

Board members include Nkosinathi Mshengu (Chairperson); Karen van Pletsen; Nise Malange; Belinda Saville; Zakes Bantwini; Russel Hlongwane, Rashaad Rehman, and Neil Comfort.

Kumisa is a formal body with strong ties in local, provincial and national government, external stakeholders and playmakers. It acknowledges professional talent and treats each artist with the integrity and respect they rightfully deserve. Kumisa abides by a code of conduct that governs practice and implementation, considering all genres of music as equals while prioritising the preservation and promotion of indigenous KZN music as well as all commercial music.

Kumisa lobbies with policy-makers to protect, promote and advocate for the rights of all music industry practitioners within its membership. It creates an artist’s profile and listing for each member to provide higher visibility to potential clients.

The organisation fosters an invaluable link between industry, government and artists, providing the latter with a say in the way things are governed.

Kumisa members chose from a selection of programmes such as workshops and seminars to improve skills and support music business across the value chain to better access local and international opportunities. Networking and communication between music industry professionals is promoted and access is provided to relevant information with regular updates on news, industry issues, events and business opportunities. Individual packages are created to suit members’ needs.

Kumisa invites all members and stakeholders to its forthcoming Annual General Meeting to report on the progress of KUMISA, while at the same time providing a platform for launching activities for the ensuing year.

Kumisa prides itself as a pioneer in cutting edge technology and development. To maintain our lead as frontrunners, we lead a highly skilled team to aid new research and development of the local music industry by unpacking key issues such as new growth platforms for sales and distribution, audience and consumer markets revenue streams, regulation of live performances and airplay, copyright and royalty protection and much more.

To become a member of Kumisa contact email: info@kumisa.co.za or visit www.kumisa.com