South Africa and Canada partner in 2021 to help “build a robust cross-border music industry based on collaboration and making the most of ‘Music in the 4IR’” 

Johannesburg, 29 December 2020 – Announced today, the South African Music Week (SAMW), a new annual cross-border collaborative event that in 2021 will take place 26- 28 January 2021.Taking its cue from the world-respected Canadian Music Week, SAMW in 2021, will see South Africa and Canada come together to explore ways in which to maximise how music, technology and business are converging, and to forge a new path for success for all musicians. SAMW is free to attend and will take place virtually in 2021 to take account of ensuing precautions around the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a reciprocal exchange, SAMW will aim to build skills and the capacity of the South African Music Industry as a whole, and for artists in both countries to discover new markets for their craft.At the same time, South Africa and Canada are looking to develop a mutually beneficial collaborative investment paradigm to grow the music economy, a by-product of which, could be travel and tourism opportunities between the two.

Themed ‘Music in the 4IR’, the 2021 event comprises three days of online panel discussions, a virtual expo, music performances, B2B networking and an industry Hall of Honours event.

Founder and CEO of South African Music Week, Michael Moeti, said: “We are excited to write a new chapter for the South African music industry by bringing the world to our doorstep, using the digital age to unearth emerging talent and plugging it into a global audience.

“Thanks to the phenomenal inspiring success of Master KG’s Jerusalema, South African talent is being recognized globally.SAMW is, therefore, the ideal platform from which to entrench this interest and build a robust cross-border music industry based on collaboration and making the most of music in the 4IR.”

SAMW is the result of a working visit that Moeti undertook to Canadian Music Week (CMW) in Toronto, Canada in May 2019 where SA was a spotlight at CMW and; a fact-finding mission to Canada in January 2020, which was led by Ms. Mbali Hlophe, MEC for Gauteng Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.SAMW is a timely event that amplifies the new spirit of world community, to work together on creative solutions that benefit the whole.

Headed by Canada’s Province of Ontario in partnership with South Africa’s Gauteng Province, among the big names that will participate in SA Music Week are, Cory Litwin, Amara Nwogu, Erin Ashly, Trisha Carter alongside South Africa’s music heavyweights, such as, Black Coffee, Euphonik, Jonathan Butler and many others.

The Hon. Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries said: “I’m pleased that we all are coming together to support South African Music Week, in the great province of Ontario… I’m pleased that we continue, as the ‘world in one province,’ to embrace the world over into our music scene and vibrant culture and arts scene…. We are there to support you and we cannot wait to see what you deliver next.”

Canada will also field a contingent of highly regarded professionals, some of whom have been responsible for the successful careers of some of the biggest global artists including; Drake, Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, The Weeknd and Michael Bublé among others.

The South African Music Week is in partnership with the Department of Sports Arts and Culture, Gauteng Dept of Sports, Arts, Culture & Recreation and BrandSA.

The Event programme line-up includes: 

• The Future of Music Business: Surviving COVID-19, By Neill Dixon, CEO Canadian Music Week 
• 4th Industrial Revolution – Digital World: Music Streaming, Sync & Gaming by Gugu Nyoni, Webrave (SA) 
• Music Market in the Digital Era: (Streaming, Gaming, Social Media (Indie Vs Majors) by Antos Stella, CEO Content Connect Africa and Lee Ann Morais  
• Investing in The Business of Music by Mike Tanner, Music Programmer, City of Toronto 
• How Can Canada and the South African Industry Partner and Become Music Cities – Sister Cities? (Best Practices, Arts Friendly Policy Development, Music Office) by Jackie Dean, Interim Co-CEO of Music, Canada 
• Turning Artists into Brands by Sylvester Chauke (SA) 
• Programming Support for International Missions and Artistic Collaborations and Foreign Artist Tours by Pierre-Louis Pinel, Canada Arts Council 
• How Foreign Artists Can Access Funding to Tour Canada & Collaborate with Canadian Talent by Evelyn Cream, Marketing, Publicity, Artist Management along with a Panel: Factor Funding Model – How to Empower Emerging Talent 
• Music & Copyright Law by Wiseman Ngubo, COO, CAPASSO 
• Reciprocal Opportunities Between Canada and South Africa – Where are the Export Development Opportunities? By Trisha Carter, Music Export Manager CIMA 
• How to Tour Overseas and Export South Africa to Foreign Markets, by Renneth Shisikule, CEO, IMEXSA 
• The Manager’s Rule Book to Turning Artists into Mega Stars- Canada and the USA, byCory Litwin, CEO 2wenty 2wenty Music Group (Canada) 
• Government to Government: Prospects for Collaboration and an Exchange Programme – Skills Development and Training by Marina Adams and Charmane Botha. 

Performances include: 

• Afronaut 
• Anada Trap Story 
• Andyboi
• Bongani “Mahlathini” Zanazo
• Jay Popular
• Mahlathini
• Kayla
• Sean Trimz
• Nono Nkoane
• Automatic
• Khanyo
• Hanco
• Tarryn Lamb
• Thuto
• Sofaya
• New Hero

SAMW will also launch a specific COVID-19 song, CORONA.This multinational collaboration is in acknowledgement of the pandemic, and the extra vigilance required by citizens of the world to do their bit to combat the spread of COVID-19. 

For more information, please visit www.samw.co.za 

Social Media handles:

• Instagram - @samusicweek
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFrkgvhq8JRd-scvXD5AiiA?view_as=subscriber 
• Twitter - @SAmusicweek2021
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/South-African-Music-Week-109333754258077/?view_public_for=109333754258077  

Hashtags: #SAMW2021 #Music4IR 

For media enquiries, hi-res images, interview requests please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.orThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. || 082 825 5718 / 082 339 1199 

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Editor Notes:

A press conference will take place on the morning of 26 January 2021. 

The press conference can be attended physically or virtually (formal invites will be distributed shortly) – all COVID-19 protocols will be observed  

At this press conference there will be other speakers, who will include the likes of: 

• Andrew Mitchley, A&R Head, David Gresham Records- A&R Opportunities 
• Mpumi Phillips, Creative Manager - Sheer Publishing - Indie Publishing 
• Billy Domingo, Festival Director: CTIJF- Talent Buying and Promotions for CTIJF 
• Jonathan Butler (SA/USA) Artist (Live) and Q&A about his experience touring in Canada 
• MEC Gauteng: MbaliHlophe, Dept of Sports, Arts, Culture & Recreation  
• DG: Mr Vusumuzi Mkhize, Dept. of Sports Arts and Culture.