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The 2023 edition of Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) was a success, with hundreds of artists, fans, and industry professionals converging at the Hallmark House Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 23 and 24 May.

The conference received high praise from delegates who said the women-led event was a much-needed platform that would help bridge the gap between Africa and the rest of the world.

This year, the convention shone a spotlight on Zambia and Germany and featured local influential industry players including Paradise Worldworld,  National Arts Council (NAC), Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF), the South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA), Basadi In Music Awards and Trace South Africa. Also featured at the conference was a delegation of Germany-based music professionals comprising Re.Decay music producer and label owner Owen Ross, GROOVE magazine representative Alexis Waltz, WOMEX/Piranha Arts head of communications Gaurav Narula, creative Maureen ‘Mo’ Mutheu, WISE founder Philipp Geffer, Stil vor Talent co-founder and CEO Slawjana Ulrich, seed investor and entrepreneur representative Peer-Uli May, MA Music Academy Berlin managing director Karin Mueller, and AFEM events and communications manager Thilini Jayawickrama.

Plenary sessions and workshops

Over the two days, the delegates – some of whom traveled from Spain, UK and Botswana – shared ideas on different perspectives on how to improve the music industry. Plenary sessions were held to spur conversations on the urgent issues facing the industry, and new avenues for opportunities were examined.

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A panel on The Power of Music Conferences in Driving Regional Music Industries featured Music In Africa Foundation projects officer Claire Metais who used the annual ACCES conference to highlight the important role played by such gatherings.

“We had an interesting chat about the development of more similar platforms across the continent,” Metais said. “As Music In Africa, we were honored to participate in Africa Rising Music Conference because of the benefits it brings to the music industry.”

Another insightful discussion on the evolving role of a manager in today’s fast-paced and constantly changing music business landscape was covered under the topic Artist-Manager Collaboration: Key to Music Industry Success. International Music Managers Forum director of innovation and education Jake Beaumont-Nesbitt, who was on the panel, said: “Speaking with young managers from Zambia and South Africa, we learned how they are building brands for their artists and reinventing the business model to drive exciting new revenue streams.”

Other notable speakers at the conference included Shiba Melissa Mazaza (Mount Makeda/SA), Choolwe Chibomba (TIMEDIA/Zambia), Ralph Boege (Paradise Worldwide/SA), Mangaliso Mthembu (Ncube Incorporated Attorneys/SA), Sebastian Spring (MINT/Germany), Namakau Star (Paradise Worldwide/SA), Tamara Dey (artist/SA), Bwalia Nkumbula (Zed Arts Records Ltd/Zambia) and Pfanani Lishivha (SAMPRA/SA), among other influential industry names.

A series of Pioneer DJ workshops also took place, where participants learned how to deejay on the spot by experts. Additionally, aspiring DJs were taught how to improve their revenue opportunities during the two-day workshop, which was held in partnership with Bridges for Music.

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Showcases

Through the showcases, South African and Zambian artists managed to establish relationships with an eye towards collaborations and international deals.

Among the acts that performed were Bholoja (Swaziland), Aka Kelzz (Germany), Venior (Finland), The Planetoids (Germany), Namakau Star (SA), Natasha Chansa (Zambia) and Yolophonik (SA). Others are South African amapiano artist Boohle, who was joined by local electronic acts Deep Aztec, Chronicle Deep, Black Villain, Rose Bonica and DJ Kmat, as well as El Mukuka (Zambia), ALBI X (Germany) and Megatronic (UK/UAE).

Megatronic said: “ARMC was an incredible and very beautiful experience. I am feeling very privileged and lucky to witness this level of original talent.”

Founded in 2018 by female creatives SJ Nicholson, Sharon Ramoshaba, DJ La Vita, Jules Spielmann and Namakau Star, this year’s edition continued its mission of empowering and creating bridges between creative artists and music executives so they can successfully move into the international space while offering valuable insights and connections to international stakeholders who are interested in working and understanding the African market.

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“We had a delegation of over 20 international executives and artists from Europe,” Nicholson said. “ARMC has once again proved building bridges is possible when uniting communities and cultures. The Berlin Music Commission and the Music Board made this international interaction possible by bringing over artists and delegates from Germany. From an African perspective, we hosted the Zambian delegation for the very first time and 10 Zambian executives travelled here to talk about the state of their music economy and to establish new connections.”

Namakau Star added: “The energy and space at this year’s ARMC was amped-up and super warm. It was great seeing industry professionals coming together, we received a lot of great responses. There was a lot of learning and so many people felt represented.” Additionally, the delegates visited Soweto to learn about opportunities and barriers faced by local artists.

At the prestigious Marabi Club, the Africa Rising Music Conference concluded with a remarkable grand finale. Attendees came together to support the Bridges for Music Academy, raising an impressive sum of 300,000 Rand. Esteemed musician Zakes Bantwini, an early supporter of ARMC, graced the evening, signifying a full-circle moment. These funds will contribute to the growth and development of the Bridges for Music Academy, fostering the next generation of musical talent.

The Africa Rising Music Conference 2023 embodied the spirit of unity, collaboration, and empowerment within the global music industry. With its successful conclusion, the conference has once again proven that building bridges is possible when communities and cultures come together.

Save the Date for ARMC 24: May 28th and 29th, 2024

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Mark your calendars! The highly anticipated ARMC 24 is set to take place on May 28th and 29th, 2024, promising another remarkable gathering of industry professionals, artists, and fans.

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Internationally acclaimed musician Yungblud has returned with a landmark new single ‘Lowlife,’ out now via Locomotion/Geffen Records, following a premiere with Zane Lowe on Apple Music. His breakneck voyage through the alt cosmos continues, with ‘Lowlife’ marking a fresh new era – visually, sonically and creatively – for the artist who has undeniably become the voice of Gen-Z, using his music to unite and empower the youth of today.

‘Lowlife’ is perhaps Yungblud’s most honest creation to date. Delivered with fervor and passion, it is an energetic, rebellious and turbo-charged anthem, fusing hard-edge melodies, heavy basslines and raw, vulnerable lyrics. It marks the beginning of a sonic and creative shift that sees Yungblud return to his alternative roots while also taking creative risks with quirky yet detailed production, and considered instrumentation that simultaneously feels both new and nostalgic.

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Listen to ‘Lowlife’ HERE.

Speaking about the track, Yungblud says: “I wrote ‘Lowlife’ because I just didn’t want to leave my house. I was sick of people, of games, of myself, my friends, anytime I did anything some idiot had an opinion about it. What I should do or be. The truth is I didn’t want to be anything at all sometimes, I wanted to be nothing. So I just didn’t leave bed. I was dissatisfied and craving some sort of boredom. The type of boredom where you sit in your house, in the same sheets and watch fucking mind-numbing TV, so I wrote a song about it.”

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He neglected the notion of being beholden to influences when writing the single and entered the studio with producer Paul Meany with no references or preconceived idea of the outcome. He says “I’ve not been going into the studio intent on making something like, ‘Close To Me’ or ‘Born This Way’ or ‘Life On Mars’. We’d start with a blank canvas each time, bring up a beat and see what the f**k happens.”

The single was teased last week when Yungblud sent hand-written notes to fans’ letterboxes around the world, detailing locations in London, Los Angeles and Germany, where blacked-out cars emblazoned with the single title popped up, attracting masses of fans who gathered in their thousands to experience the single for the first time.

Yungblud has just completed a huge run of sold-out arenas in the UK and Europe, and South American festivals, on his headline tour titled YUNGBLUD – The World Tour. He embarks on the US leg throughout June, July and August performing to his biggest North American crowds to date. Starting on June 27 in St. Petersburg, FL and making stops in Philadelphia, Montreal, Toronto,Indianapolis, New York, Boston, Nashville, Kansas City, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and more, before concluding August 6 in Seattle, WA. For a full list of tour dates and to purchase tickets, go to: www.yungbludofficial.com/tour

Since the beginning of his phenomenal rise, he has nurtured a vast collective of dedicated fans around the globe, with a social following of over 14.5 million and accumulating billions of streams, cementing him firmly amongst the top alternative artists of his generation. With more music to come throughout 2023, Yungblud’s trajectory is looking brighter and more exciting than ever.

‘Lowlife’ is out everywhere now.

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