Each year, Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) brings together key industry leaders from across Africa and beyond, facilitating meaningful conversations and collaborations.
About ARMC:
Africa Rising Music Conference is a female-led music conference focused on female leadership, artist & executive exchange. Consisting of panel sessions, workshops, networking opportunities and artist showcases, ARMC fosters a dynamic environment for the discovery of new talent, catalyses meaningful change and builds bridges between markets.
For 2025, the conference will feature an exciting lineup of thought leaders, artists, and innovators shaping the global music industry, including:
Rethabile Khumalo (ZA) – South African Singer/Songwriter and Director at WINNKAY MUSIC RECORDS &MANAGEMENT, Msaki (ZA) – a South African composer, singer, and songwriter, Sibu Mabena (ZA) – Founder of Duma Collective, South African Hip-Hop icon Jack Parow (ZA), Yvonne Chaka Chaka (ZA) – “Princess of Africa”, Charlotte Bwana (UK) – Vice President of Marketing (EU, Africa & MENA) at Audiomack, with expertise in global music marketing, Nick DeCosemo (UK) – Global Editorial Director at Wasted Talent – Mixmag, Phatstoki (ZA) – Co-Founder of P_ssy Party, Nickita Maesela (ZA) – City Manager Johannesburg at Resident Advisor, Jonathan Bandli (ZA) – Creative Director at Bad Weather Productions, an innovator in visual storytelling, Rehana Pillay (ZA) – General Manager at Mint Digital Services, Alan Freeman (ZA) – Director at Freeman House Recovery and more to be announced soon!
These speakers represent the diverse and evolving landscape of the African and international music industries, covering topics such as artist development, streaming, marketing, mental health, and live events.
Key Partners
With a growing presence on the global music stage, ARMC 2025 is supported by top industry partners, including AlphaTheta, which is collaborating with ARMC on pre-conference roadshows in Nairobi and Durban, as well as innovative DJ workshops in May, Paradise Worldwide, Mint Digital Services, Audiomack, Sealand Gear, MANZI Water, as well as media partners Music In Africa, HYPE Magazine, Resident Advisor and Rolling Stone Africa.
These collaborations ensure that the conference continues to provide valuable resources, networking opportunities, and exposure for emerging artists and music professionals. International artist mobility is supported by Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg, PRS Foundation and Pro Helvetia this year.
ARMC is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible platform that empowers African artists and industry professionals. The newly structured event dates also open opportunities for studio sessions, and additional industry meetups between Bassline Fest and MTN Bushfire Festival, making ARMC a key meeting point in the African music calendar.
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