Cape Town 5th October 2026: After 16 years of connecting, educating and opening doors for the creative industries, Music Exchange (MEX) has been nominated for Music Business Conference of the Year at the inaugural Music Business Awards Africa 2026.
MEX is nominated alongside Music Imbizo and ACCES in a category recognising the African music business conference or summit that has made the most significant contribution to industry knowledge and networking.
The nomination is a significant milestone for Music Exchange, which for 16 years has brought emerging creatives into the same room as leading South African and international music and entertainment industry professionals.
Founded and convened by Martin Myers, MEX has always been driven by one principle: outcomes matter.
“Music Exchange has never simply been about putting speakers on a stage,” says Myers.
“It is about sharing knowledge, building relationships and creating opportunities that can move careers forward. To receive this nomination in our 16th year is a wonderful acknowledgement of everyone who has supported, spoken at, partnered with and attended MEX over the years.”
MEX26: WHERE THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC MEETS OPPORTUNITY
The nomination comes as MEX26 prepares to bring another formidable line-up of South African and international music-business leaders to Cape Town on Saturday, 31 October 2026.
Now in its 16th year, MEX26 will put delegates face-to-face with senior decision-makers and experts from SAMRO, Gallo Music, Breaking Wave Group (UK), Content Connect Africa, Kopton Music and the Academy of Sound Engineering, alongside international contributors from the USA, Germany, UK and Norway.
From rights, royalties, publishing and sync to streaming, AI, intellectual property and the changing record-label model, MEX26 is focused squarely on the real business challenges and opportunities facing today’s creative sector.
Crucially, MEX remains outcomes-based. It is about giving emerging and established creatives direct access to knowledge, networks and decision-makers and helping turn creative talent into sustainable careers and businesses.
The Music Business Awards Africa are built around the theme “Honoring the Music Industry Invisibles”, recognising the people and organisations whose work behind the scenes helps build and sustain Africa’s music economy.
The inaugural awards ceremony takes place on Saturday, 21 November 2026 at the South African State Theatre in Pretoria.
VOTE FOR MUSIC EXCHANGE
Music Exchange is calling on its friends, partners, speakers, delegates and the wider creative community to support MEX for:
MUSIC BUSINESS CONFERENCE OF THE YEAR
Votes cost R2 each, with online voting starting at 10 votes for R20.
Music Exchange SMS voting code: BC03
Vote online:
https://www.
Music Exchange:
https://musicexchange.org.za
Sixteen years. One mission. Real industry outcomes.
VOTE MUSIC EXCHANGE – MUSIC BUSINESS CONFERENCE OF THE YEAR.
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