Two days on collaboration, no movement on the streaming splits that decide who actually earns.
The Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) 2026 returned to Johannesburg's Constitution Hill on 22 and 23 May, bringing together artists, executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers and creatives.
While Johannesburg hosts yet another music conference promising to "strengthen collaboration," the real question is whether ARMC 2026 will address the structural inequalities that see African artists earning pennies on global streaming platforms while international labels profit from our sounds. The continent doesn't need more conferences about rising. We need concrete action on fair revenue distribution, intellectual property protection, and dismantling the gatekeeping systems that still force our biggest talents to seek validation through Western markets.
While Johannesburg hosts yet another music conference promising to "strengthen collaboration," the real question is whether ARMC 2026 will address the structural inequalities that see African artists earning pennies on global streaming platforms while international labels profit from our sounds. The continent doesn't need more conferences about rising. We need concrete action on fair revenue distribution, intellectual property protection, and dismantling the gatekeeping systems that still force our biggest talents to seek validation through Western markets.
SUMMARY BY STRATA-AF™ · ORIGINAL REPORTING BY MUSIC IN AFRICA
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