What is Moshito?

Moshito is an annual music conference and exhibition that takes place in South Africa.  The event is a partnership between, primarily, the Department of Arts and Culture, and Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition.

Moshito is underpinned by a commitment to giving South African music industry stakeholders credible business intelligence, enabling them to make informed decisions that will enable them to build a defendable competitive advantage in the marketplace for their companies. This it does in order to strengthen the South African music industry's global competitiveness.

What is the difference between the Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition and Moshito itself?
Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition was established in 2004 as a way to maximise the role of the music industry in economic development, job creation, poverty alleviation and socio-cultural development within South Africa. It is a broadly representative section 21 company that hosts Moshito, which is the annual South African music market. 2008 sees the fifth Moshito taking place – known as Moshito ’08.

What member organisations are represented on Moshito’s Board?

Association of Independent Record Companies (AIRCO)

Composers’ Association of South Africa (CASA)

Creative Workers’ Union of South Africa (CWUSA)

National Organisation for Reproduction Rights in Music in Southern Africa Limited (NORM)

South African Music Promoters Association (SAMPA)

Southern African Music Rights Organisation, Limited (SAMRO)

The Music Managers Forum of South Africa (MMFSA)

What is the role of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC)?

The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) has supported MOSHITO from inception. Prior to the formation of Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition in 2004, the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) drafted policy towards the development of the music industry as early as 1995 with the release of the White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Two critical developments that arose from the White Paper were the Cultural Industries Growth Strategy (CIGS) in 1998, and the Music Industry Task Team (MITT) in 2000. The CIGS research identified key actions that needed to be undertaken to realise the potential of the music industry to contribute to economic growth. The MITT made 37 recommendations that were felt to be critical to overcome current impasses in the industry. MOSHITO is an important instrument in the implementation of the above-mentioned policy documents.

Are there any other sponsors involved in Moshito ’07?

In 2008 support comes from the Gauteng Provincial Government, Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation and the City of Joburg.

In addition SAMRO (Southern African Music Rights Organisation) is one of the founding organisations of the Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition and remains on its board, using its position to add significantly to Moshito’s growth. In 2008 this includes the support of IFAS (the French Institute of South Africa), which is assisting in the funding of Moshito 08 and is part of a broad involvement with the French community in South Africa. In October Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and Cultures France will be sponsoring a Moshito delegate to participate at WOMEX. Additional support for Moshito is also coming from BASA as well as the SABC.

What initiatives have Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition implemented?

Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition has implemented several key initiatives, all of which arose out of Moshito ‘04, Moshito ’05,  Moshito ’06 and Moshito ‘07. 

These include facilitating attendance at the MIDEM Music Market for independent record companies, with the assistance of the Department of Arts and Culture. In addition, the South African Music Export Council (SAMEX) also arose out of Moshito as did the Music Manager’s Forum of South Africa.

What is Moshito 08’s relationship with WOMEX?

The relationship between Moshito and WOMEX, the world’s largest world music Expo, effect at the 2008 Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition and will see the organisations jointly develop programme elements around the key areas of Digital and International Environments for Moshito ‘08. Other exchanges are also set to take place during the year.