The Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) is Johannesburg and one of South Africa’s premier platform dedicated to female leadership and building connections between artists and executives. Scheduled for its fifth edition on May 22nd and 23rd, 2025, ARMC aims to bridge the gap between African talent and the international music scene, offering valuable insights for stakeholders eager to navigate the rapidly growing African market.
Founded by Sarah Jane Nicholson, Managing Director of Paradise Worldwide Africa in 2018, ARMC’s key objectives include amplifying underrepresented voices, building bridges, facilitating knowledge exchange, and driving innovation. The conference provides a dynamic environment for discovering new talent, catalyzing meaningful change, and creating unparalleled opportunities for growth and collaboration. Whether you’re an artist, brand, or executive, ARMC offers a platform to understand and influence the future of music, both in Africa and globally.
The conference features ARMC by Day, comprising panels, workshops, and networking sessions, alongside ARMC by Night, which showcases performances by local and international artists. For its 5th iteration this year, the conference will take place at Constitution Hill — a venue emblematic of South Africa’s journey to democracy.
Rethabile Khumalo, South African Singer/Songwriter and Director at WINNKAY MUSIC RECORDS & MANAGEMENT; Msaki, South African composer, singer, and songwriter; Sibu Mabena, Founder of Duma Collective; South African Hip-Hop icon Jack Parow, Charlotte Bwana, Vice President of Marketing Africa & MENA at Audiomack; Nick DeCosemo, Global Editorial Director at Wasted Talent – Mixmag; Phatstoki, Co-Founder of P_ssy Party; Nickita Maesela City Manager Johannesburg at Resident Advisor; Jonathan Bandli, Creative Director at Bad Weather Productions, an innovator in visual storytelling; Rehana Pillay, General Manager at Mint Digital Services; Alan Freeman, Director at Freeman House Recovery, and many more music and business professionals will be sharing their insights at ARMC 2025. You can find the full lineup of speakers here.
At Arts Connect Africa, we celebrate and support the Africa Rising Music Conference, and its founder Sarah Jane Nicholson, not just because its goals align with our focus areas of education, cultural exchange, and economic impact in Africa, but also because of the platform it gives to to female music business leaders and female artistes and creative industry professionals.
To learn more about the ARMC and follow the 2025 event, Visit the official event website. You can also get instant updates on the Africa Rising Music Conference 2025 social media platforms YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
