World-renowned composer, songwriter, producer, score wizard and MEX15 board member Trevor Jones returns home to take up his place once again. As one of South Africa's finest composer exports, Jones' invaluable contribution and participation is a MEX15 highpoint.
Delivering this year's keynote address is Crown Talent and Media Group chairman Marc Marot. With around 100 personalities under management, including Ella Henderson, Union J, Luke Friend, Becky Hill, Tamera Foster, TV presenters Susy Perry (BBC) and Hayley McQueen (Sky) as well as former Formula One driver Max Chilton, Marot's 30-plus CV is beyond impressive, it's simply staggering.
He can claim his part in no less than 38 top-10 singles, 18 number ones and album sales of more than 100 million albums.
At the age of 31 he was the youngest MD of Island Records. Marot steered the likes of U2's career for the better part of the 1990s amongst a whole host of others, all of which guarantees an opening address delegate's will relish.
Staying in heavyweight territory, MEX15 is set to welcome producer and player extraordinaire Bryan Michael Cox. He has been involved in over 175 million album sales and been awarded the Grammy Award nine times. Not only has this humble hit-maker touched the lives and lyrics of the likes of Mariah, Luther, Whitney, Jamie, Usher, Destiny's Child ,Mary J Blige and Toni Braxton, the 37-year-old music major continues to grow his field of influence right across pop music's multifaceted playing field. Talking all things technical and topical, Cox with his manager's participation and presentations should not be missed.
Brandon Bakshi, the Executive Director of Writer/Publisher Relations for Europe & Asia, is based in the BMI's London office. While at BMI, he has been responsible for the signing of Daft Punk, Pete Townshend, Queen, Sade, Afrojack, Deadmau5, One Direction, Shaggy, Avicci as well as Ellie Goulding. He has been a past speaker and moderator at the Winter Music Conference, Amsterdam Dance Event as well a Music Managers Forum. In this role, Bakshi oversees the outreach and relationship management among the international song writing and publishing community and, as with all of guest speakers both imported and local, has prepared a presentation invested in equipping every single ME15 delegate with information that has the ability to empower.
Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse will once again be participating, rounding off a stellar list of world-class talent ready to share and edify everyone invested.
Limited tickets are now on sale through Computicket, Shoprite and Checkers outlets countrywide, online at www.computicket.com or by calling 0861 915 8000. Tickets cost R100 per day, or R200 for the full two-day event. Time: 9am to 7pm daily
