Jason Curtis
Jason Curtis joined New Media Publishing (NMP) in April 2008. His publishing portfolio includes The Pinnacle for Pinnacle Point Holdings, Netcare magazine for Netcare, Roots for FNB, Xplore for Mitsubishi Motors SA as well as Mercedes and Transport for Mercedes-Benz SA. With a passion for publishing as well as music, Curtis is committed to contributing to the two by sitting on the MPASA PICA Committee and as judge of the South African Music Awards (SAMA). He also regularly freelances as a music writer and journalist. Curtis joined NMP after five years with The Publishing Partnership, working on numerous magazines including Sea Rescue, Heart and Pulse amongst others, prior to which he was editor and publisher of Top Forty and Channel O Magazines. Prior to this Jason was the head of International Promotions for EMI Music in Johannesburg, where he served for two years, promoting tours and albums for the likes of Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross, Placebo and many others.
MUSIC EXCHANGE Q&A
The benefits that may be gained by attending Music Exchange.
QUESTIONS:
1) Which internationally acclaimed bands have you worked with?
Janet Jackson, Placebo, Luther Vandross, Michael Learns To Rock, Depeche Mode, Lenny Kravitz
2) In what capacity did you work with these bands?
Head of International Promotions EMI Music SA.
3) Regarding your work in the music industry, what is the biggest mistake you have ever made and what did you learn from it?
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
4) Of which achievement are you most proud?
Surviving close on 20 years in an industry notorious for ejecting passionate people in a heartbeat.
5) In a nutshell, what are the primary requirements needed by a young band who want to enjoy a successful music career?
Passion, street-smarts and the indifference to embrace your dreams whilst compromising little in your quest.
6) Who is your favourite SA band at the moment and why?
Foto Na Dans – taking established ideas and making them there own.
7) In your opinion, what is the significance of something like Music Exchange to the South African music industry?
Very significant if all the key players in this market embrace the opportunity to salvage and grow what is potentially a very rich space.
8) Overall, what needs to happen to the South African music industry in order for it to make more inroads into the international market?
A concerted, qualified effort to successfully promote great original music locally – once that’s been achieved… the world becomes a whole lot smaller a whole lot quicker.
9) Which specific area of the music industry will you be discussing at Music Exchange and what benefits do you expect to be gained by your audience?
I will be sitting in on a panel discussion on day two. Benefits to the audience from my insight? Hopefully a better understanding of how to build profile to compliment the great music emanating from SA.