Midem appoints SA's IMEXSA director on its Artist Accelerator Committee

The announcement was made on 31 January. Tshisikule will join a team of distinguished experts including Rob Hallet, Founder of Robomagic (UK), Christopher Kaskie, President of Pitchfork (USA) and Devraj Sanyal, MD & CEO of Universal Music Group South Asia (India), among others.

The programme is designed to support managers, agents, labels and publishers as they look to grow their artists’ profiles globally. The programme has been running for a few years and in 2015 included the well-known L.A Reid on its artistic selection committee. Reid will give a keynote this year.

Tshisikule spent the last few years at the helm of IMEXSA developing and increasing the number of music exporters in South Africa through identifying trade opportunities globally, and assisting African music companies and independent musicians to take advantage of those opportunities. She’s also the founder member of one of South Africa’s biggest talent search projects for export, The SA Indies Music Week, which turns four in 2017.

Tshisikule started her music career in 1999 as an artist. She also got involved in the training of young women in the music business while working together with a label called GTP-Productions. Her aspirations to grow her music globally saw her join forces with the Gauteng Growth Development Agency (GGDA). This partnership led her to form IMEXSA in 2010.

Through IMEXSA and the SA Indies Music Week, she has helped over 100 African unsigned and independent music professionals present their talent and products at various conferences like Popkomm (Germany), Womex (Europe), Primavera Pro (Spain), Canada Music Week (Canada), Midem (France), CMJ (New York), Africa Festival (Germany) and South by South West, SXSW (Austin, Texas).

Artists interested in seeking international exposure are encouraged to apply to participate in the Midem Accelerator. They will need to complete an online application form, supplying all the required information via this link. Applications close on 5 February 2017 at 3pm GMT. Midem takes place from 6 - 9 June in Cannes, France.