Johannesburg is preparing for four days of music and industry meetings as ACCES returns from October 28 to 31. For independent artists, managers and promoters, the programme offers a chance to connect the creative side of a career with its everyday business: finding audiences, organising tours and earning from rights.
The Music In Africa Foundation’s programme places the main conference on October 29 and 30 at The Forum at The Campus in Bryanston. Conference attendance is advertised as free, with registration on a first-come basis. That is an invitation to register, rather than a guarantee that a place will remain available when a reader arrives.
Two conference days, four music nights
Evenings have their own itinerary. The published timetable starts at The Artistry on October 28, moves to Untitled Basement on October 29 and 30, and closes at Jozi Gold on October 31. Industry Nights have separate booking links. Readers should confirm the particular night and its admission conditions before paying or travelling.
The announced performers span different musical traditions and markets. They include South Africa’s Sun-El Musician, Cameroon’s Blick Bassy, Zimbabwe’s Sylent Nqo, Ghana’s FimFim and Akra, and Canada-based acts Kizaba and Kelly Bado. These are scheduled appearances; this preview does not report performances as already completed.
Make the conversations useful
The conference timetable puts independent businesses, a more connected touring economy and Africa–Canada career routes on October 29. October 30 includes sessions on rights revenue, investment and music publishing. The practical appeal is the opportunity to ask focused questions about the part of a music career that an artist is trying to develop.
Prepare a short introduction, a working music link and a clear explanation of the collaboration you want. An artist seeking a booking agent needs a different conversation from a producer looking for publishing advice. These are our preparation suggestions, not organiser requirements or promises of a deal.
Before you travel
Check the venue page as well as the programme when planning transport: the organiser says its conference shuttle serves official partner hotels and designated venues only. Do not assume every hotel is on that route. The Emerging Artist Spotlight song-submission deadline was October 16, so the continuing presence of that promotion does not make it a newly open competition.
