The Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) closed the year on a high note after completing three international export projects in partnership with the SAMPRA Development Fund in 2025. The collaboration continued to create meaningful impact for South African artists on global stages throughout the year.
As part of this partnership, acclaimed South African singer-songwriter and multidisciplinary artist Msaki, supported by the SAMPRA Development Fund and working alongside ARMC, travelled to Milan, Italy, to perform and participate as a speaker at Linecheck Music Meeting & Festival 2025. She was joined by Pfanani Lishivha, CEO of SAMPRA, who delivered a keynote address as part of the festival’s international programme.
Linecheck, recognised as one of Europe’s most influential music conferences and festivals, brought together global industry leaders, creators, and innovators to explore the future of music, culture, and technology. The participation of Msaki and SAMPRA highlighted the growing international recognition of South Africa’s creative industries and reinforced SAMPRA’s commitment to elevating local talent on the world stage.
This final activation for 2025 marked the culmination of a productive year for both ARMC and SAMPRA. Their ongoing collaboration continued to expand international visibility and mobility for African creatives, further positioning ARMC as a leading export and professional development platform within the South African music sector.
Key engagements at Linecheck 2025 included:
• 20 November – Keynote speech “Unlocking Africa’s Music Economy – SAMPRA’s Role in Rights & Revenue” by SAMPRA CEO Pfanani Lishivha, BASE Milano, 15:30 – 17:30
• 20 November – Performance by Msaki, BASE Milano, 22:10 – 22:50
• 21 November – Networking session “Meet Promoters, Agents, Clubs & Festivals” with Jules Spielmann (Project Manager, Africa Rising Music Conference), BASE Milano, 10:30 – 12:00
• 21 November – Panel discussion “From stream to stage: when digital listening turns into live performance” featuring Msaki, BASE Milano, 12:00 – 13:30
Looking ahead, the Africa Rising Music Conference 2026 will return to Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, with its sixth edition scheduled for 22–23 May 2026. The first wave of speakers and artists will be announced in January 2026 as ARMC continues its mission to build bridges between Africa and the global music ecosystem through dialogue, collaboration, and export opportunities.
