ACCES Conference sessions (2024 programme)
Conference sessions
Thursday 14 November
Opening address by Honourable Minister of State for Youth and Arts Sandrine Umutoni
Understanding the Rwandan music market
The Rwandan music scene is vibrant and rapidly evolving, offering new opportunities for artists and industry professionals alike. This panel dives into the heartbeat of Rwanda’s music scene, uncovering the local dynamics that are driving change and shaping its future. Panelists will provide insights on the current trends, from genre innovations to audience shifts, as well as the challenges and strategies for success in this emerging market.
Efficiency in music rights administration
Annabell Lebethe CEO of Africa's largest Collective Management Organizations, SAMRO, will address Africa's potential for exponential growth and the role of CMOs in boosting revenue streams for African music creatives. Her keynote will highlight best practices implemented by SAMRO to enhance value for South African music creators, emphasizing the importance of CMO collaboration to support the global monetization of musical works, while improving systems and operational efficiency.
Monetization strategies for independent African artists in a global market
In today’s competitive music industry, what actionable steps can independent artists take to monetize their music and build a financially stable career? Maximizing resources and earnings by leveraging online platforms, from streaming services to social media, taking advantage of music licensing and sync opportunities, and collecting royalties are some of the strategies that will be discussed by our experts for music creators to untap revenue streams, boost their income and take full ownership of their craft.
Makerverse building the Future of Creativity with Nasty C
Africa’s youth will join a digital-first workforce driven by mobile technology and creative pursuits. However, the current music industry lacks the infrastructure to support this potential. Makerverse addresses these challenges through its creator monetisation platform, featuring chart-topping artist Nasty C and Tallracks, a decentralised label for independent artists.
Nasty C will share his journey of going independent with Tallracks and his vision for the future of African music as an artist, creator, gamer, and tech entrepreneur.
BREAKAWAY SESSION: Keeping the music alive: driving music mobility and live music growth in Africa
Join an inspiring documentary screening and discussion on Concerts SA, a multi-award-winning project that has transformed live music in Southern Africa over the past decade. Managed by IKS Cultural Consulting, this innovative initiative has empowered vibrant live music circuits, supported over 4,000 concerts across 1,000 venues, and reached more than 1 million people in 11 SADC countries. The screening will delve into the project's impact, followed by a discussion on the forces shaping music mobility and the development of live music scenes across the continent.
Creating youth culture with Rwandan hip-hop
When does a sound transform from a fad to a movement? With the emergence of Kinyatrap in Rwanda, a new era of youth culture was born. Starting with the free expression of the original Kinyatrappers who broke the unspoken stigmas of generations past and invented a new vocabulary of slang to address modern realities, a whole universe of creativity and youth identity emerged. From the videographers who were needed to shoot the music videos, to the fashion designers who began to dress the artists, and the music studios that became the home for alternative visions… Today, Rwandan youth have a new banner to fly that transcends its complicated history without ignoring it. Hip-hop, with its internal codes, look, and speech, has become a movement. Our panel of creatives from each sector of the scene will discuss how these phenomena emerge from the perspective of Rwandan hip-hop.
Breaking boundaries: Heavy-K, Sir Trill, and the rise of African music on the global stage
In this exclusive session, join multi-award-winning artists Heavy-K and Sir Trill alongside top industry leaders (Virgin Music Group Dapper Group) as they discuss the evolution of African music from local success to global impact.
Explore the remarkable journeys of Heavy-K and Sir Trill, from breaking into the South African music scene to selling multi-platinum records, and learn how their collaborations with top regional and international artists have cemented their status as leading African entertainers. The session will also delve into the role of industry leaders in nurturing African talent, building sustainable careers, and shaping the future of African music on the global stage.
Export and development strategies for African independent artists
With African music on the rise, independent artists are uniquely positioned to break into global markets. This panel will examine how entrepreneurship, innovative creative approaches, and the power of strategic collaborations can unlock effective strategies to navigate the complex balance between local and global markets, while leveraging digital platforms, and developing sustainable careers that resonate both locally and internationally.
Friday 15 November
Building a sustainable future for African musicians
This keynote will explore the importance of creating equal opportunities and fostering growth for African musicians in a globalized music industry, with a special focus on gender equality. Yvonne Chaka Chaka will highlight how artists—particularly women—can empower themselves by staying informed and actively engaging with the evolving landscape of the music business. Drawing from her experiences and advocacy, she will share insights on how African musicians can navigate industry challenges, address gender disparities, and build a thriving, inclusive future in music.
Harmonising the collection of music royalties in Africa
As the African music industry continues to expand, the effective management and collection of music rights revenue has become crucial for ensuring that artists and creators receive fair compensation for their work. This panel brings together leaders from key collective management organizations shaping the future of music rights across the continent, to explore the current collection practices, strategies for improving efficiency and transparency, the impact of digital platforms, and how collective management can adapt to an evolving industry landscape.
Unlocking global opportunities for African talents with Tab Nkhereanye
As a top music executive and advocate for African talent, Tab Nkhereanye shares his extensive experience in discovering, nurturing, and guiding talent in the music industry, as well as strategies for positioning African artists and professionals for success on the global stage. From navigating the complexities of cross-cultural collaboration, to leveraging digital platforms to amplify African voices on a global scale, the discussion will provide insight into emerging trends, technologies, and business models that can empower African talent to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and competitive music landscape.
Fair play: African music creators and remuneration models in the digital market
How to ensure that evolving economic models in the digital industry, which aim at fair remuneration of rights holders, benefit African music creators?
This key discussion will center around the role of streaming platforms, effective regulatory frameworks, and global cooperation to secure fair value share. The session will highlight how these interconnected elements can drive inclusive growth, empower African creators, and establish long-term sustainability within the local and global music economies.
BREAKAWAY SESSION: What use are record labels? Distribution and promotion in the DIY digital era
In an era where artists can self-release and self-promote, is there still a place for record labels? This provocative panel explores whether signing with a label is necessary when artists can retain control of their creative direction, branding, and income. While labels offer advantages like financial backing, management, and industry connections, many musicians have thrived without them by leveraging distributors and building their own promotional strategies. Join our expert panel as they weigh the pros and cons of working with labels versus going independent, and provide essential tips for self-releasing artists in today’s DIY digital world.
Innovations and opportunities for the global music industry
Driven by the rapid adoption of digital technology and a vibrant creative culture, groundbreaking innovations are transforming the continent’s music landscape. This session will examine how innovations such as AI, mobile technology, data analytics and new business models in emerging markets are reshaping the global music economy. We’ll delve into the forces driving these changes and their impact on industry stakeholders, from producers to consumers, and discover how these innovations are connecting diverse markets, creating new opportunities, and redefining the global music experience.
Unlocking opportunities for African artists: Inside Warner music’s acquisition of Africori
Join Laverne Thomas and Yoel Kenan for an exclusive deep dive into Warner Music's acquisition of Africori. Learn how this strategic move is shaping the African music landscape, the benefits it brings to artists, and how Warner is deepening its commitment to nurturing African talent. Discover insights into the partnership’s impact on music distribution, rights management, and the opportunities it opens up for African artists to reach a global audience.
Festivals, touring networks and collaboration: navigating the African live music circuit
Learn about the dynamics of African live music, how to overcome the challenges and maximize the opportunities within the continent’s vibrant live music scene. Industry leaders and artists will share insights on the vital role festivals play in showcasing talent, while the emergence of festival circuits is creating new platforms for artists to connect with diverse audiences. The conversation will also highlight the power of collaborations within the live music industry, and how these collaborations are driving creativity and expanding market reach.
