Africa Rising Music Conference 2024

Release your rhythm! The Africa Rising Music Conference 2024 is thrilled to announce its full program, headline sponsors, and the launch of Phase Two and VIP conference tickets.

As South Africa celebrates 30 Years of Democracy, and 30 years in music it's only fitting to share the partners and communities that will help bring the full Africa Rising Music Conference (#ARMC2024) experience of life on the 27th and 28th of May at Newtown Junction in Johannesburg.

The two-day event will be held in partner venues within Newtown Junction - Market Theatre,

AMPD Studios, City Lodge Newtown, and Carfax. Attendees are invited to join engaging panels and networking sessions at Market Theatre, as well as workshops at AMPD Studios.

With a jam-packed program curated to perfection #ARMC2024 is excited to announce Ballantine’s, AlphaTheta, and Paradise Worldwide as their headline sponsors for the 2024 conference.

In collaboration with these and more partners, ARMC unveils their full ARMC by Day & Night program as well as Phase Two and VIP conference tickets available at Webtickets.

The full programme can be found at Africa Rising Music Conference

"As we celebrate 30 years of democracy and music through the fourth edition of the Africa Rising Music Conference, we are thrilled to have opened our doors to South African artists and executives by offering the first 400 tickets for free—a milestone quickly reached. With our full program now live, featuring top-tier participants from around the globe, our mission continues to not only cultivate and expand the local music ecosystem but also to foster international collaborations. " Says SJ Nicholson, Founder of ARMC.

"This conference is a testament to Africa's vibrant independence and its influential voice on the world stage." Adds co-owner Namakau Star of the conference that features local and international speakers including PJ Powers, Antos Stella, Dr Linah Ebony Ngcobo, Busiswa, Thandi Ntuli, Hloni Modise Matau, Mamthug, Maps Maponyane and Kim Jayde.

Ms Party, Marcus Harvey, Sbo Gyre, Namakau Star, Rita Kamale, an artist of UK/Moroccan descent, Mace The Great of Wales and Albi X out of Germany are some of the performers and DJs at ARMC By Night each evening at Carfax.

In addition to the above mentioned ARMC is thrilled to unveil program curation including brands such TikTok, SAMRO, Yamaha, and Ableton. By collaborating with Basadi In MusicAwards for another year, the conference reaffirms its dedication to providing opportunities and support for women artists, producers, and industry professionals.

"At Ballantine’s we believe in the power of local music culture and strive to champion it through initiatives like True Music Fund. After our successful partnership with ARMC in 2023 we were excited to come on board for this iteration of the conference to support up-and-coming talent once again. " Says Anna Filipiak, Assistant Brand Manager, Ballentine's.

Join the ARMC by Day workshops for music production sessions with Ableton, led by Emile Hoogenhout. Learn Ableton Live 12 and performance skills with the Ableton PUSH & Namakau Star, plus DJing skills from AlphaTheta for all levels.

Panels

ARMC2024, in collaboration with its 2024 partners, is set to present an array of exciting panels featuring a mix of local and international music talents. This includes a special focus on African Hip-Hop moderated by Lolwetu Pakati with experts Lesiba Manga, Yalezo Njuguna, Lebogang Kgothadi, and Spokenpriestess. Additionally, this year's lineup boasts headline speakers from the UK, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands including Kwame Kwaten, Managing Director of Ferocious Talent in the UK; Justin Mckenzie, Co-Founder of Jazz re:freshed; D.O. Gibson, a Canadian president at Northstarr Entertainment Inc and Camilla George; Musician at Jazz Re:freshed as well as Grammy Award Winning Duo Blue Lab Beats from the UK to name a few.

Keynotes

Explore keynote session "Staying True to the Music" with Ballantine’s & uncover impactful sustainable brand building strategies with Sealand featuring speakers Maps Maponyane and Jasper Eales, and engage in a virtual session led by Addy Awofisayo, Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa at YouTube.

VIP & Networking Area

Secure your VIP ticket for #ARMC2024 to gain exclusive access to our networking area, where you can connect one-on-one with top media, bookers, labels, and PR agents, and join the 'Meet the Pros' session to rub shoulders with all our artists and speakers.

ARMC By Night

ARMC By Night joins forces with Off Centre, South Africa night time specialists to curate and host both nights at Carfax a walking distance from our host venues nestled in Newtown Junction. For a second year running ARMC2024 has partnered with PRS Foundation and created by UK collective Femmefest to facilitate the mobility for two exceptional artists from the UK. ARMC By Night 1 will feature KEYAH/BLU, Rita Kamale, an artist of UK/Moroccan descent, and Mace The Great of Wales. We are proud to also confirm Albi X out of Germany, supported by Initiative Musik. These artists will also perform at The Bassline Fest and Bushfire Festivals.

Local headlines for Night 1 include Marcus Harvey, Sbo Gyre, Namakau Star and K.Keed amongst the above mentioned International acts. For ARMC By Night 2 we have a mix of electronic genres from Amapiano to Afro House, featuring the likes of Ms Pammie, Ms Party DJ Nubian and Weston & Engine this night marks the eve of the elections and is sure to be electric!

Tickets

Phase Two conference tickets are now available to purchase online for R400 (Two-Day Ticket) via this link. All tickets gain access to the ARMC By Night program.

For an even more exclusive experience and access to networking sessions in the VIP area, attendees can now also purchase their VIP tickets online for R600 (Two-Day Ticket).