(Loyiso Bala)Kumisa - the Kwa Zulu-Natal United Music Industry Association - will host its first music industry conference with award-winning South African artist Loyiso Bala taking centre stage at the event.
Set to take place on June 30 2012 in Durban, the inaugural conference is facilitated as a developmental project by Kumisa, which was created with the objective of serving, promoting and representing the interests of the music industry in the KZN, nationally and internationally.
The conference will play host to key music industry players and related industry specialists as part of a day-long programme set to inform, educate and engage conference registrants (Kumisa members), music industry stakeholders and guests from the media on the various facets and challenges of being an active player in the KZN Music Industry.
Bala will present a key-note address titled The Business of being an artist tackling the development and support of business and entrepreneurial skills for music artists.
“We wanted to kick things off with a bang and we knew that a respected artist like Loyiso Bala would be the perfect candidate to head up such a significant event to music professionals around the province,” said Kumisa chairperson Nkosinathi Mshengu.
With a music career spanning over the majority of his life, Bala who is brother to Zwai Bala of popular SA group TKZee, has dabbled in a variety of music genres such as Classical, Kwaito, RnB and most recently Gospel. The Gimme the Night star who has performed alongside artists such as Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Elton John and Akon has five SAMAs (South African Music Awards), three Metro FM Awards, and even a South African Film and TV Award for Best Musical Score as well as other prestigious accolades to his name.
The conference programme will also feature several panel discussions and seminars led by leading experts in the field ranging from topics such as Radio Airplay, Live Music and Audience Development and Music Rights, Royalties, Digital Platforms and New Media Technology.
Said Mshengu; “Kumisa has felt the pressing need to purposely select these topics for discussion in response to areas sorely lacking drive and guidance in our music sector. With the assistance of our lead experts and support from our stakeholders we are confident that the conference will leave a lasting impression on our artists that will promote the sustainability and longevity of our beloved music industry here in the province.”
Kumisa was established as 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 (DEDT), which aims to support and accelerate the advancement of a financially viable and sustainable music industry within the province.
Last week Kumisa announced plans to utilise funding support from KZN DEDT towards active involvement in developmental projects that will promote the aims and objectives of Kumisa, and increase Kumisa membership among music professionals.
The Kumisa Inaugural Music Industry Conference will take place on June 30 from 09h00 to 17h00 at the Docklands Hotel on the Point Waterfront in Durban. For more information visit www.kumisa.com
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