The International Council of Music Creators (CIAM) is bringing its 2025 General Assembly to Johannesburg, South Africa, on 22–23 October 2025, hosted by CAPASSO (Composers, Authors and Publishers Association).
This marks a defining moment for Africa’s creative industries — a full week of events designed to empower songwriters, producers, and composers through policy discussions, collaborative creation, and emerging tech insights.
A Week That Redefines Creator Power
The conference week will include:
General Assembly (22–23 October) — Global music leaders and creator representatives will converge in Johannesburg to address key topics such as AI and copyright, streaming economics, data transparency, and fair creator remuneration in the digital age.
SongHubs Songwriting Camp (19–23 October) — A dynamic collaboration space for African and international songwriters and producers, building new works, sharing metadata best practices, and forging cross-border creative partnerships.
AI & Music Workshop (24 October) — A hands-on session exploring AI’s impact on music creation, authorship, and compensation. The workshop will offer frameworks for ensuring consent, credit, and fair pay for creators in the AI era.
Why It Matters
For African songwriters and composers, this is more than just another conference — it’s a strategic opportunity to shape the future of music rights and revenue across the continent. With AI reshaping copyright law and streaming platforms dominating distribution, creators need both policy influence and practical tools to thrive.
By hosting CIAM 2025, South Africa becomes the epicentre of a global conversation about fair pay, data ownership, and creative collaboration.
The Hosts and Partners
CAPASSO will host the General Assembly, joined by CIAM’s global network of music creator alliances. The event also draws support from African partners and rights organisations, reinforcing a unified push toward equitable digital transformation in the creative economy.
As the countdown begins, Johannesburg is poised to set the tone for the next chapter in Africa’s music rights revolution.
