Country Profile: South Africa
South Africa’s live music scene is faced with a post-pandemic reality defined by shrinking consumer disposable income and the need for innovation, especially following the loss of the 80,000-capacity Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, which has been converted into a car showroom.
Yet key promoters, including Live Nation-owned Big Concerts, Showtime Management, Glen21 Entertainment, and Breakout Agency, are adapting to the challenging conditions with creativity as much as possible.
The loss of the nation’s premiere large-scale venue in 2021, coupled with the further blow of the pandemic, saw many live industry personnel move to the Middle East and Europe to seek work, leaving local promoters in a bind. Glen Netshipise of Glen21 and Damon Forbes of Breakout, however, resorted to creative solutions such as using old warehouses and unconventional spaces to keep shows alive. Forbes says a “can-do mindset” is key, suggesting that focus has tilted towards “finding a way to make shows happen” rather than being hampered by a situation beyond their immediate control.
The aftermath…
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