🎷 SOUTH-EX PROJECT 🎷
Capacity-building; Artistic Collaboration and New Market Entry
About
South-Ex is a project conceived by COSCAP (Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers – Barbados), intended to provide professional development assistance to its members with the following 3 primary arms: Capacity-building, Artistic Collaboration and New Market Entry. The project is being implemented in partnership with SAMPRA and IKS Cultural Consulting as the coordinator in South Africa.
Capacity-Building
A series of online and in-person workshops took place through mid-June to early July. 3 of these online workshops were facilitated by professionals from South Africa, with a key focus on contracts. The webinars were targeted at emerging up and coming musicians in Barbados to strengthen their professional development, as well as build on the skills of artist managers and attorneys working in the music domain.
🎤 Workshop 1
Contract Essentials for Live Performers
An online workshop equipping performing artists, managers, and creatives with a working knowledge of live performance contracts, with a particular focus on key clauses and negotiation strategies, including navigating recorded performances and the artists’ rights.
Facilitator Bio:
Unathi Memela is a seasoned talent manager, music executive, television and radio content producer and publicist. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, she manages premier world music talent across the continent. She services talent in several countries in southern Africa and Nigeria. She has previously judged the South African Music Awards and participated on multiple industry platforms as a speaker, facilitator, and panellist.
🎤 Workshop 2
Music Recording Contracts: Navigating Rights, Roles & Revenue
A workshop designed to explain the purpose, structure, and common types of recording contracts and the key parties and their roles. An opportunity to learn the core legal and commercial terms in recording agreements.
Facilitator Bio:
Bongani Mdakane is an admitted attorney with over 15 years of experience in the legal fraternity, who now runs his law firm – Mdakane Attorneys Inc. With a special focus on entertainment law, intellectual property law, and corporate commercial law. With a special focus on entertainment law, intellectual property law, and corporate commercial law, Bongani has also served on the board of CAPASSO.
🎤 Workshop 3
Digital Aggregation Contracts: A Practical Guide
An informative workshop providing attendees with a detailed understanding of music aggregation contracts, covering contract terms, artist rights, licensing, and monetisation.
Ideal for artists, producers, labels, and creative entrepreneurs navigating the African music
landscape.
Facilitator Bio:
Munya Chanetsa is a seasoned executive with over 15 years in the music and entertainment industry. He currently serves as Managing Director: Africa for EMPIRE Publishing, representing influential figures such as Asake, Fireboy DML, and Blaise Beats. He is also the founder of Masters Of The Industry (M.O.T.I) and KREEYATE Creative Agency, initiatives focused on empowering African creatives through licensing, education, and advocacy .
🎭 Artistic Collaboration:
COSCAP released a call offering two export-ready, Barbadian emerging musicians (artists/songwriters/music producers) to register their interest in being considered for an opportunity to make new music with South African Producers. The two producers selected by COSCAP from SAMPRA’s registered members for this component of South-Ex were the visionary Producer, bassist and composer – Prince Bulo; and the world-travelled drummer, vocalist and producer – Tshepang Ramoba of the BLK JKS. They respectively selected to work with the following musicians from Barbados: Richelle Johnson (Jjorie) and Phillip Kellman (Phillip K).
Jjorie x Prince Bulo
Studio 1:
Academy of Sound Engineering studios
SABC Radio Park
Henley Rd, Auckland Park. JHB
Time in studio: 11h30
# of Tracks created: 2
Phillip K x Tshepang Ramoba
Studio 2:
Post Post Studios
Transwerke Studios – ConHill
Sam Hancock Street, JHB
Time in studio: 11h30
# of Tracks created: 2
The night before travelling back to Barbados, SAMPRA hosted a listening session in Rosebank with industry guests in attendance to hear the new music created over the South-Ex residency. Andre Le Roux led the co-collaborators in conversation about the music-making process, the inspiration behind the lyrics and highlights from their time in South Africa to the artists from Barbados. Attendants in the room were enthused about the music they heard, scheduled to be released later in 2025.
New Markets:
While in South Africa to record new music, the Barbadian artists were programmed to perform to local audiences at 4 events across the province of Gauteng. This was with the hope of exposing them to new audiences and the artists accessing new markets.
In preparation for the performances, rehearsals were scheduled with the YAMS house band, who backed the musicians at 2 of the events they performed at. They were joined by the famed bassist Prince Bulo as a band member, too.
Performance 1:
Performance 2:
Performance 3:
Performance 4:
Showcase:
South-Ex Artist:
South African Producers:
PRINCE BULO
Prince Bulo is a visionary South African producer, composer. and bass guitarist redefining the soundscape of Afro House with a futuristic edge. Known for his dynamic blend of traditional African rhythms and cutting-edge electronic production.
TSHEPANG RAMOBA
Tshepang Ramoba is a drummer, vocalist, producer and film music supervisor from Johannesburg South Africa, and a member of the well-travelled alternative band BLK JKS and owner of POST POST Entertainment.
Barbadian Producers:
JJORIE
Jjorie is a multi-genre vocalist with a drive to create positive music and spread her light through her art. With three impactful records already released this year alone, demonstrates her unwavering commitment to continually honing her craft.
PHILLIP K
Called to inspire others to walk their journey with faith, Philip K’s music is a testament to his mission. Gifted as a multi-faceted music practitioner with over 8-years in the sector. He was recognised in 2022 when his song “Sweet Melody” won Reggae Song of the year in the Gine on People’s Choice Awards.
Media & General Enquiries:
For any general queries about the South-Ex project or interested media queries, you can email
christine@iksafrica.com