ARMC adds Mixmag’s Nick DeCosemo as keynote speaker

The conference aims to empower and enable South African-based executives to successfully move into the international space, and to facilitate knowledge exchange and networking with international stakeholders who have an interest in the African market.

The female-led event will bring together more than 45 international delegates from six European countries including the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, France and Italy. African participants will include music professionals from Rwanda, Namibia, Botswana, Nigeria, Angola and Kenya, among others.

This year’s edition will shine a spotlight on the Netherlands with international showcasing partner Dutch Music Export sponsoring 15 music professionals to travel to South Africa for the conference.

The conference programme include music showcases, networking sessions, presentations and panel discussions that will unpack the inner workings of the African music industry by looking at specific case studies and brands, and how they differ from their European and global counterparts.

“Education comes from first-hand experience with delegates engaging with one another and a ‘work-by-doing’ approach,“ ARMC founder Sarah Jane Nicholson said. “We are not educating from page to stage; we believe in education taking place through engagement and first-hand experience, and through building bridges and opportunities.

“Our keynote speaker is Nick DeCosemo, global editorial director of Mixmag, who will be speaking for the first time at a conference in Africa. He will be sharing his insights as to how the electronic and beats genres are influencing the global stage more and more, from Diplo to Drake being influenced by these sounds from Africa.”

DeCosemo said: “The continued explosion of African electronic music is nothing short of miraculous and it feels that now it is most definitely the right time for an event like ARMC. With its message of developing an independent African electronic music industry, amplifying female voices and building bridges between the continent and the rest of the world, it seems that initiatives like this can help African artists and industry work see the true benefits and rewards for their talent and commitment.”

Female ambassadors will include Anyiko Owoko (Anyiko PR, Kenya), Dieuwertje Heuvelings (ADE Beats/Dutch Music Export, Netherlands), Tumi Mogapi (Women in Music SA chapter chair, South Africa), Jamie (Artist and producer, Denmark) and Thandi Draai (performing artist and producer, South Africa).

ARMC has partnered with MTN Bushfire as part of a three-year partnership, which will see Dutch artists Rimon and Bnnyhunna featured at the 2022 edition of the festival.

View the full conference programme here and buy tickets to the event here.