Clive Hardwick
Director, Bula Music (South Africa)It was during his high school and university career that he became interested in the performing arts and specifically music. While studying commerce and law at the University of the Witwatersrand he got involved in the activities of Phoenix Players a music and theatrical group which was dedicated breaking the cultural barriers of apartheid.
During this time Clive worked as a runner on the 1976 production of “Sizwe Banzi is Dead” an Athol Fugard statement play starring John Kani and Winston Ntshona. He also worked on various concerts and stage productions around the country.
After leaving University Clive then spent a few years getting practical business experience working as a management accountant for ITT a New York based company with interests in Southern Africa.
In 1983 Clive joined Future Marketing a music promotions company run by the late Ian Bernhardt. During this time he was involved in many major music events in the townships and also gained valuable experience in artist management through exposure to associate company Kaya which was at the time the biggest musicains management company in South Africa.
In 1985 Clive together with Ian and Linda Bernhardt set up and ran the Shell Road to Fame Talent Search. This was and probably still is the most successful talent search programme ever undertaken in the country. This project became a much quoted case study in corporate communications in South Africa.
In 1987 Clive set up a music production company, Zako Music, with Peter Tladi and Sizwe Zako. This was one of the very first Black Economic Empowerment companies ever formed in South Africa full decade before it became fashionable.
In the late 80's and early 90's while building an independent record label, Clive was very involved in corporate communications. Clients included Shell, EMI, Ford, The Association of South African Music Industries, SFW and Nestle.
In 1994 Clive was appointed as the communications consultant to the Independent Electoral Commission. It was his task to assist in devising the communications strategy for South Africa's first democratic election.
In 1995 Clive was appointed to the board of the Trilion Group of Companies. He remains a director and shareholder of the following group companies; The Picture House, a leading retail commercial production company, The Digital Workshop, a video facilities business, and Datapost a specialist digital media delivery and management solutions provider.
In the mid 1990’s Clive was involved with the implementation of music events for the Prince's Trust. This included a music festival in Johannesburg attended by Princes Charles and Harry and an event at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which included Phil Collins, Tony Bennett, Hugh Masekela, and Ladysmith Black Mambaso and was attended by HRH Queen Elizabeth and President Nelson Mandela.
In 2001 Clive was involved in the Celebrate South Africa project, which took place in London. This project included a music festival in Trafalgar Square, A technology exhibition and various music and dance productions at the Royal Festival Hall and the on the South Bank.
In 1998 Clive was involved in the establishment of Bula Music an independent record label with Harvey Roberts and Peter Tladi. Bula music is today one of the leading music producers in the genres of jazz, gospel and South African traditiononal music. Bula, has for the past two years, been home to South Africa’s biggest selling local artist and become one of the largest independent record companies in the country.
Clive has recently been involved in the implementation of a digital platform for the management and delivery of digital content to internet and mobile service providers in Southern Africa.