MUSIC EXCHANGE (MEX18), South Africa’s only entertainment-economy-focused conference, returns to Cape Town for the eighth time from 1 to 2 September 2018 to the City Bowl

MEX18 will be hosted at the impressive Academy Of Sound Engineering studio complex, in District 6, as well as Sun Square, Mill Street, Gardens over the jam-packed two-day imbizo.

With MUSIC EXCHANGE well established and respected – thanks to incredible support from some of the world’s biggest names in production, song writing, composition, management, PR, digital strategy and live performance – MEX18 is excited to announce more of the same in the build up to its biggest weekend yet.

SAMRO, DEEZER, RISA and JOOX are just few of the critical local touch points in any career in music, all who will be active and participating at MEX18.

Add to that extraordinary partnerships and key international relationships, MEX18 welcomes back Abbey Rd Studio’s CHRISTIAN WRIGHT to the fold for a second time. Christian’s mastered many award-winning Number One albums for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Keane, Franz Ferdinand, Blur, and Gabrielle Aplin, along with soundtracks to movies (Gravity, Prince of Persia, The Master) from both sides of the Atlantic.

As to what Christian intends bringing to his happy return to The Mother City, he’s quick to point towards the talent he’s already forged working relationships thanks to 2017’s MEX writers camp. “My first emersion was wonderful,” he confirms. “I’m looking forward to hooking up with the team I worked with last year, but more especially connecting with more new and established talent while I’m there.”

Between band management, mastering and touring the world conducting writer’s camps, Christian’s most recent exploit took him to South America where he’s hoping to bridge and marry musicians from there with our own local talent. “It’s too early to say,” he teases, “suffice to say the rich talent in South Africa has the potential to go truly global. Cross pollination is key.”

With MEX18’s focus around all things digital, including the streaming economy, Christian, along with Mahogany’s Mark Murdoch will unpack the relationships between record labels, managers and the audiences they each appeal to. “Building a career in music takes time to develop. I’ll be talking about how producers need to adapt to an audience that extends beyond the borders of where music’s made if it’s to travel. Petit Noir is one such example of how taking a South African talent, exported and now plugged it into a universal audience to bring extraordinary success to everyone involved. So, yes, lots to talk about and plenty more to share and learn, MEX18 is where it’ll all come together.”

Music Exchange will also be hosting showcases. We have slots available on Friday, 31 August, at the launch evening,  from 6-8pm, as well as two slots on Saturday, after day one of the conference, before RJ Benjamin and Chad Alexander perform.

The artists who perform must be able to do vocals and guitar, or vocals and piano or djembe drum. We want to listen to the essence of music. Three songs each, no longer than 15 minutes in total at Sun Square, Gardens (Mill Street Gardens ) from 6-8pm  on Friday 31 August.