Ballantine’s and long-term partner Boiler Room are pledging to do their part in creating a safer, fairer future for music culture through their new global event series True Music Studios.
Building on their commitment from the past seven years to championing global diversity in music, True Music Studios will bring together a variation of artists, promotors, panelists, and underrepresented groups, to celebrate local sounds, scenes and diverse communities, offering music fans around the world inclusive experiences both in real life and streamed from home.
True Music Studios features a mix of live performances, educational events and community experiences curated by cutting edge collaborators who are pushing forward local music scenes including Kedr Livanskiy (Moscow, Russia), Ms. Nina (Madrid, Spain) and DBN Gogo (Johannesburg, South Africa).
Music lovers will see the Possible hitmaker, DBN Gogo, curate a 9 day experience that will include live performances from Mzansi’s top Amapiano vocalists Boohle and Lady Du headlining the globally streamed parties. The line up also includes Musa Keys, Young Stunna, Kelvin Momo, Que DJ, DJ Stokie, Kyotic, Unclewaffles, Ms Party and Sfarzo Rtee.
The series will also include educational talks aimed at tackling how South African music has rapidly grown internationally in recent years. Key industry players will unpack the journey and challenges in the music industry that ultimately culminated in this rise and global recognition. This pivotal conversation hosted by DJ and radio presenter Lamiez Holworthy will include creative force Busiswa, DBN Gogo herself, as well as the senior marketing and PR expert, Ayanda Mhlongo.
This initiative follows the release of Ballantine’s ‘Resetting the Dancefloor’ report which revealed 1 in 3 people have been victims of discrimination at live music events. Alongside key figureheads within the industry, Ballantine’s aims to shine a light on and tackle issues of inclusion and diversity in music, calling on the industry – and fans alike – to club together to initiate change. Following nightlife reopening and a post pandemic ‘reset’, True Music Studios marks Ballantine’s own action and commitment to help drive real change in the industry, through its new diversity and inclusion policy that looks at leading issues within music culture:
o Diverse programming: ensuring all True Music line-ups and content represent diverse communities
o Fair payment: ensuring that no fee gap exists by taking an active role in making sure talent are paid and treated fairly
o Inclusive dancefloors: making safe dancefloors a priority and committing to bringing one billion music fans inclusive True Music experiences through its safe dancefloor policy
Here are the Boiler Room x Ballantine’s True Music Studios tour dates in South Africa:
22 Feb – In Conversation With Busiswa, Lamiez Holworthy, DBN Gogo, & Ayanda Mhlongo: The Rise and Rise of SA Music
23 Feb – IDA dance workshop and Pretty Girls Love Amapiano
24th Feb – Party Broadcast: Boohle (Live) / Young Stunna (Live); DJ Stokie / Kyotic / UncleWaffles / Sfarzo Rtee
25th Feb – True Music Fund Party: Ebumnandini x Prime.
26th Feb – Community Party: Same Sex Saturdays
1 March – Masterclass with Thuli of Lawk Communications: Music Industry 101
2 March – Community Party: Lawk Fest Takeover
3 March – Party Broadcast: Lady Du (Live) / Reece Madlisa & Zuma (Amaroto) / Musa Keys / Kelvin Momo / Que DJ / Ms Party
To find out more about the South African Ballantine’s True Music series activities visit www.ballantines.com/en/true-music/
You can be part of the series by simply registering here in order to receive a ticket.
