Julian von Plato
Having spent the last 20 years in the South African Music and IT industry, Julian has been able to place himself in a unique position of being a specialist in the ever growing digital music industry. Julian was involved in launching one of SA’s premier entertainment websites EntertainmentAfrica.com. Other involvements include Quincy Jones’s project Q Radio, SA Music Awards digital platform for judging, SAMA goodie bag, Head Judge on Office Idols on DSTV, Over 20 Albums as a songwriter, producer. Leading SA Music and IT journalist. Julian also helped to launch many of the Major record labels viral online campaigns. Julian is currently heading up the digital music strategy for Telkom media and is involved in several online projects such as Idiomag.com, GETMO news portal, DIGMU and this year is heading up the online social community drive for SAMA’s, where for the first time live mobile streaming from the event, facebook feed, twittering etc will take place.
Specialty: Music – Digital, mobile and strategy
Having spent the last 20 years in the South African Music and IT industry, Julian has been able to place himself in a unique position of being a specialist in the ever growing digital music industry. Julian began his career in 1986 as a singer in various cover bands in the Johannesburg area. This included performing with Vicky Sampson and John Cecil in the successful cover band Wonderland. In 1991, Julian spent a year in the UK working as an engineer and songwriter. In early 92’, Julian was invited back to SA to join a new project called Third Wave with Gary van Riet. The debut album, a first for SA, combining the best talent across all racial boundaries to form the biggest dance band of the year. The album spawned 4 number 1. hits and a national tour. Julian was responsible for writing 5 of the track including 2 of the number 1’s as well as performing as a vocalist on various tracks.
Over the next 2 years Julian spent his time writing and producing for various artists. Projects included:
- :Danzecore Vol2. – released by EMI/Virgin – sold 5000 units’
-: Constance – Why – featuring the number 1 hit “DO you love him “written by Julian
-: Outlaw Entertainment in late 93 with Paul Pallelo of BMG Africa
In 1995, Julian released “Voices 4 Victory” SA’s first unsigned bands project. Julian raised the capital and recorded and produced all 8 bands that featured on the album. The was released through Outlaw Entertainment, and spawned hits for bands such as Amersham and Pure Feel. 7 of the 8 tracks were playlisted on radio stations across the country proving that SA music was starting to come of age.
In 1996 Julian become head producer at Cube Music and for the next 2 years worked on multiple albums as a producer, songwriter and engineer.
Julian spent time helping to develop local music including artist such as Ard Mathews, Belinda Davids, Nasty Weather etc.
During this time Julian had started to realise the industry was changing and the internet was going to play a major role in defining the music industry of the future.
During the next 8 years working within the IT industry with his marketing agency Outlore Marketing, during the period he worked client such as HP, Lucent, Tarsus, Cisco and many more. All this time he spent he continued to work on his passion music, Julian was asked to help head up a project for Quincy Jones during this period called Q Radio (Q Radio sold African music into the US via the internet). The project last for 2 years and was way ahead of its competition at the time.
In early 2003 Julian met Tim Bishop from Prezence and realized his dreams had finally come true. Over the next year Julian worked with Tim to set up SA definitive online Music portal EntertainmentAfrica.com. Prezence was also rising up to become the leading digital agency in SA. Over the next 4 years Julian headed up the Johannesburg office of Prezence as well continuing to develop EntertainmentAfrica. Julian helped to develop relationships with all the record labels and film labels in SA. Julian also worked on helping develop the digital drive of the SA Music Awards and is currently consulting on the SAMA 2008 awards.
Highlights
- EntertainmentAfrica.com – Over 100 000 subscribers
- Office Idols 2006 – Was head judge on Office Idols which was flighted on DSTV channel 36 over a 10 week period.
- Julian MC’d various events over this period including – Launch of PVR to journalists at Mount Grace, Danny K album launch etc
- SAMusic Awards – Development of first digital voting system for judges.
- SAMusic Awards – Julian put together last years Goodie Bag – Over R18k worth of goodies in the goodiebag given to presenters at the awards. Largest goodie bag in SA history
- Friends of Live – Gave SA audience a chance to post messages to the band during their SA tour, the best message one a day with the band. A book of the messages was presented to the band at their last show by Julian
- Telkom sponsorship of the EntertainmentAfrica.com portal. Julian helped to secure a 3 year sponsorship of the portal making it one of the only financially successful portals in SA
- Invited by Sony Ericsson to be the only SA journalist at 2006 MTV EMA’s in Copenhagen. Secured the first interview with FreshlyGround when they won their award.
- Artist interviews including black eyed peas, live, collective soul, skunk anansie, metallica, fat boy slim, evanescense, stereo MCs, fall out boy, staind, hoobastank, rem, faithless and many more international acts as well as most of the SA bands
In mid 2007 Julian was offered the offered the opportunity to join the newly formed Telkom Media on contract. Julian is currently working on putting together music strategies across all platforms including:
- Digital Music Platform
- Music content for WebTV
- Music strategy for launch of Telkom Media
- Assisting in content ideas for satellite and IPTV offering
Julian over the years has also been a judge at the SA Music Awards, has consulted to various IT companies and done presentations to EMI, Lucent, Moshito Conference etc. Julian continues to look for more ways to develop entertainment and technology thru online, mobile, IPTV and satellite.