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- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Hunna launches 2025 Mentorship Programme for female Saudi musicians
From July to November, monthly workshops will feature leading regional and international women sharing insights on production, live performance, artist strategy and global positioning. Hunna, a women-led initiative dedicated to championing female talent across the MENA music scene, has launched its 2025 Mentorship Programme and workshop series in Saudi Arabia. The initiative will connect emerging female artists with established industry mentors while hosting workshops and community events across the region in the lead-up to XP Music Futures in Riyadh from December 4 to 6, according to a report by Al Arabiya English. Now in its third edition, the flagship programme builds on Hunna's mission to professionalise, amplify and connect women in music. The network, which has more than 120 active members from Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and beyond, aims to equip women creatives with the resources, connections, and visibility needed to succeed in an evolving global music industry. Six mentees from the MENA region and its diaspora were selected through a rigorous, anonymised process led by the Hunna Committee, a diverse panel of industry professionals and past mentees. The 2025 mentor-mentee pairings include Tunisian music entrepreneur Chaima Soudani with Celine Hitti, Head of Artist Services MENA at Believe; electronic-pop artist Nadine Lingawi ('Fulana') with Emmy-nominated composer and BBC Radio 3 presenter Hannah Peel; Egyptian multi-instrumentalist Martina Ashraf with Montréal-based experimental electronic artist Liliane Chlela; Saudi composer and pianist Nora Aljebrin with Tarabband lead vocalist Nadin Al Khalidi; DJ and producer Lena Chercaoui with Saudi DJ pioneer Cosmicat; and Palestinian-Jordanian vocalist Lina Sleibi with singer-songwriter and visual creative Lina Makoul. Named after the Arabic plural for 'she,' Hunna continues to work at the intersection of cultural advocacy, professional development and community care, grounded in the values of professionalisation, amplification and collaboration. The 2025 programme begins with the 'Introduction to Music Production Workshop' on August 20 at Beast House in Riyadh, hosted by Laughta and Cosmicat. A virtual masterclass titled 'Plan A Release,' led by Lina ElSahli of MDLBeast Records, will follow on August 27, offering practical guidance on preparing and executing a professional music release. From July to November, monthly workshops will bring in leading regional and international women to cover topics including production, live performance, artist strategy and global positioning. These sessions are open to all Hunna community members, underscoring the initiative's commitment to accessibility and shared growth. The programme will culminate with the Hunna Gathering at XP Music Futures in Riyadh from December 4 to 6, described as the 'emotional heart' of the initiative, a space for mentors, mentees, alumni and the broader community to connect, reflect and celebrate. XP Music Futures, now in its fourth year, is organised by MDLBeast and will be held at Riyadh's JAX District. The three-day event will feature a diverse lineup of global and regional speakers, addressing topics such as maintaining grassroots culture, the role of AI in the creative economy and using music for climate action. The conference blends panels, workshops, live performances, and immersive experiences, reinforcing its position as a leading platform for the region's music industry.
Cosmopolitan ME
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan ME
Saudi Arabia's women DJs are making serious noise
As Saudi Arabia continues its rapid advancement on the world stage, women have been key in leading this charge, traversing previously unheard-of career paths, and thus carving out a route, not only for themselves, but for the upcoming generation of young women. At the forefront is the Kingdom's cohort of acclaimed female DJs, whose slick beats are shifting the cultural perception of the country at home and abroad. Two women spearheading this musical revolution are the Jeddah-based artist, composer, and DJ Cosmicat, and Saudi Arabia's first-ever female music producer, DJ Viva. Friends, as well as contemporaries, it's no surprise that these women have much in common – especially when it comes to their polymath status. Cosmicat From career pivots to cultural powerhouses Cosmicat enjoyed a successful career as a dentist before swapping veneers for decks, and DJ Viva thrived in academia, with a Master's degree in business administration and a PhD in organisational development. In fact, Cosmicat laughs when she says that she didn't believe she had a 'single creative bone' in her body. Just six years ago, the DJ – who prefers to be referred to by her stage name – was teaching full-time at the University of Business and Technology (UBT) in Jeddah. 'You could literally draw a line down the middle of my two worlds, but I feel like my experience in academia and business have transferred to my career in music production and DJing,' she says. For Cosmicat, however, music was a long-held and unrealised dream prior to 2018, before the entertainment world opened up in the Kingdom. 'I never thought about music being a career given the circumstances I grew up in back in the 1990s. It wasn't an option,' the DJ explains. Recalling that she listened to music 'every single day', Cosmicat continues that she decided to go into dentistry precisely because it felt like the 'most artistic' of the sciences. The plus side? She's brought her structured thought processes to the decks. 'I am one of the most organised people you will meet,' she smiles. DJ Viva Saudi Arabia's collective sound is still forming Although the music craze sweeping the nation may be in its infancy, the emerging sounds are not – case in point Cosmicat and DJ Viva. They may share a similar background and history, but the differences in their styles point to the diversity of beats coming out of the Kingdom. While Cosmicat has a slick, Y2K and Noughties-inspired feel to her tracks – and cites Missy Elliott and Aliyah as references – DJ Viva embraces a more dark and sultry sound that traverses tech and progressive house. Both are examples of Saudi Arabia's recently developed collective sound, which is at once decidedly modern, yet carries influences as far reaching as hip-hop and R&B to traditional Arabic instrumentalism and oud. It's unsurprising that the ascent of these two DJs has been rapid. During her eight-year career, Cosmicat has travelled all over the world to play at legendary venues like London's Fabric and Tomorrowland. Then, in 2020, she released her debut single, Dilemma, with Yann Dulché. Still, the path of two musicians is never the same. After being challenged to DJ when attending one of the first public music events in the Saudi Arabia, Viva dropped a viral SoundCloud mix that changed the trajectory of her life forever. She embarked on DJ residencies, before going on to become the only woman in the country to play the role of Entertainment Director for two prominent events groups, including her own, EntertainmenTen. Cosmicat The business behind the beats Their success, in part, is thanks to efforts put in by the Music Commission, which exists under the Kingdom's Ministry of Culture. In recent years, it has installed studios and music hubs in key cities and provided scholarships to study music abroad – and that's not to mention the enduring support and opportunities provided by MDLBEAST, the country's largest entertainment company. As Heba Zaidan, MDLBEAST's Senior Creative Strategist, emphasises: 'These talents have always been there – learning, practicing, and performing in their own spaces. So, when we talk about their rise, it's not so much about them emerging as it is about the spotlight finally finding them.' With this attitude in mind, last year MDLBEAST launched the Hunna Initiative; women-led, its aim is to amplify female talent across the MENA region, as well as grow the next generation of female talent in music through mentorship, listening circles and masterclasses. Their guided mentorship matchmaking programme is one of the first in the country and connects up-and-coming female talent with established figures within the industry for a four-month-long, tailor-made scheme. These listening circles and personalised initiatives are key to the success of female musical talent going forward, explains Zaidan. 'To amplify the voices of Saudi women and artists we have to listen to them first,' she says. 'Consciously and actively listening to the needs of the women in our music ecosystem is the only way to make progress. At the same time, it's important to treat these artists as just artists – not female artists – and allow them the space to create and explore without scrutiny or expectations, negative or positive, because of their gender.' As such, more than anything, there is a palpable sense of optimism felt by the country's female musical talent: 'Every problem we had in the past is actively being solved,' states Viva. 'Female DJs are now headlining events, collaborating with global brands, and becoming icons of empowerment and artistic expression. Anyone, male or female, can learn and participate in becoming a DJ.' Hearteningly, 85 per cent of the talent in Sensation Art Collective – Viva's creative brand, which was launched last year – are female. Breaking stereotypes and writing their own narratives But while they have the support of government entities, societal expectations, especially from friends and family, have been slow to shift – especially for women who feel the pressure to balance family expectations alongside creative ambitions. Certainly, when Viva first came to the Kingdom aged 18, 'Segregation was at its highest and music was unheard of in public places. Now, it's like being in two different countries. But people's attitudes remain a barrier… They think that because you're a DJ, you're a party animal who is living a superficial lifestyle. That's not true – the majority of female DJs I know have families and are educated. They have their own businesses, fashion lines and events companies – Cosmicat is a dentist!' For her part, Cosmicat says that while these pressures exist, she wants to highlight that Saudi women can maintain their cultural identity while moving with the times. 'There's this misconception that being cultural and being modern are two different things, and that is absolutely wrong,' she asserts. 'If you go and visit any Arab country, you will see those two things living together in harmony. I'm seeing more ladies every single day going out publicly to the world with their music.' For her part, Zaidan says that MDLBEAST is more than aware that social stigma still exists and acknowledges that more work needs to be done to reassure women that music is a viable and worthwhile career path. 'It's a barrier to passionate women who just want to perform. This means that often women don't take a chance at their full potential due to some cultural hangups. It's not as easy for women to be in these social spaces and participate authentically. There are also misconceptions about female performers where people discount or discredit their abilities just because of their gender – but this is quickly changing as music is becoming more and more celebrated societally.' With the Kingdom's renewed commitment to shine a light on its creative talent, and the plethora of opportunities around, Cosmicat and Viva are full speed ahead. Viva will soon DJ on the first day of this year's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2025, as well as at the Red Sea Games, both in December. And Cosmicat promises more music soon, as well as collaborations with both Arab and international artists. Paving the way for the next generation As well as advancing their careers, both Cosmicat and Viva are keen to pass the baton to the incoming wave of young female DJs. 'I've always tried to prioritise placing female talent in my events. One of my recent initiatives was when I organised a beach festival with an all-women line-up, and it was completely sold out, with a line at the door! Viva says. 'I help and mentor wherever I can,' adds Cosmicat, noting that she was one of the very first established musicians in the nation. 'But I built everything from scratch, and not everyone has to go through the hassle I went through eight years ago now,' she smiles. And so, their advice to the next generation is refreshingly simple. 'What I would say to anyone out there is that it's totally okay to indulge yourself in the creative realm,' Viva concludes. And for Cosmicat, it's all there for the taking: 'No one came up and just gave me instructions on how to make music. Keep on being persistent and don't get dragged down.' Words to live by, for sure. Read more about the Saudi women's DJ space.
Arab News
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
How AI is transforming music discovery and production in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, its influence in Saudi Arabia and globally extends far beyond personalizing music experiences. It is reshaping how music is created, consumed, and taught, revolutionizing the industry. Musicians across the Kingdom are embracing new technology, with major local initiatives such as MDLBEAST Records leading the charge. 'MDLBEAST Records believes AI is a powerful tool for sparking initial creative inspiration in music production — whether generating a first beat, a musical bar, or a legitimate sample,' Matthew Dicks, executive director of music and talent at MDLBEAST Records, told Arab News. 'We encourage our artists to explore these possibilities within a framework of creative freedom.' Launched in 2020, MDLBEAST Records is a Saudi Arabia label that promotes and develops talent from the Middle East and North Africa region. Part of MDLBEAST entertainment, its roster includes local stars Cosmicat and Dish Dash, among others, along with international names including Salvatore Ganacci. While embracing AI's creative potential, he emphasized the importance of ethics. 'We also recognize the ethical complexities surrounding AI in music,' said Dicks. 'It is paramount that the rights of original songwriters and rights holders are always respected. 'Copying, ripping, replicating, or infringing on intellectual property is strictly unacceptable. We are committed to navigating the evolving landscape of AI in music responsibly, ensuring its use enhances human creativity while upholding the integrity of artistic ownership.' Beyond MDLBEAST Records, Saudi Arabia is making strides in preserving its musical heritage while fostering innovation. In late 2024, the Saudi Music Commission launched MusiqAI, an initiative integrating AI-driven interactive learning to teach both Arab and Western instruments. Unlike global platforms such as Suno, AIVA and Soundful, MusiqAI prioritizes Saudi sounds and Arab musical heritage, offering lessons on traditional instruments including the oud and qanun alongside the piano and guitar. In line with Vision 2030, the platform nurtures musical talent through AI-powered real-time feedback, personalized lesson plans, and accredited certifications. By blending cultural preservation with advanced technology, it aims to set a new standard for digital music education both regionally and globally. • The global market for AI in music is projected to grow from $3.9 billion in 2023 to $38.7 billion by 2033. • AI tools such as AIVA, Mubert, and Suno are already used for backing tracks, jingles, and even entire songs. • Platforms like Spotify use AI to analyze user preferences and suggest music based on listening habits. AI has also been used to enhance music discovery by adapting to individual preferences in real time, striking a balance between familiarity and exploration. 'AI and personalization help you listen to more of what you like,' Akshat Harbola, managing director of Spotify MENA, told Arab News. 'And then what we try to do is introduce you to something you haven't been exposed to in the past, but you might like it.' As generative AI advances, the cost of developing innovative listening experiences is falling — a shift that Harbola believes is transformative for the industry. 'If we were to try to do something like this maybe five years back, it would be impossible because the cost would be so high,' he said. 'You would have had to hire transcribers, producers, and you just wouldn't be able to do it. 'But now we are able to deliver these personalized sessions to millions of users.' Despite AI's growing influence, Harbola said human expertise will remain essential. 'The role of humans in AI, and when it comes to personalization, is actually going to increase over time — especially in music,' he said. He also highlighted the importance of cultural nuances in AI-driven recommendations, noting that even shared musical tastes can differ by location. 'Even if you have the same music taste, what makes sense for somebody in Jeddah may not make sense for somebody in Sao Paulo,' he said. 'So it's very important that human and cultural expertise is built into what the machines are recommending and the products we're rolling out.' Nevertheless, as AI continues to reshape the music industry, ethical concerns surrounding copyright and artistic integrity remain a significant topic of debate among musicians and creators. Addressing these concerns, Harbola emphasized the platform's strict stance on copyright compliance. 'We are very clear that any content that infringes copyright cannot be on Spotify,' he said. Siddiq 'Sidney' Malik, a filmmaker and user of AI in music, echoed this sentiment. 'We're at the intersection of creativity and technology,' he told Arab News. 'We're sort of working to adapt the future of entertainment while we're actively shaping it.' Malik views AI as an empowering tool that is cost-effective, innovative, and cutting-edge, particularly in breaking linguistic barriers. 'This allows for a new era of accessibility and artistic expression,' he said. 'It's more than just a basic tool.' Malik said it is not just about typing a prompt into a platform like ChatGPT — it is about creating an entire ecosystem. 'We're deeply invested in the transformative power of AI music, but the key thing is that we believe it's not about replacing human creativity — it's about amplifying it,' he said. However, he warned that musicians who resist AI adoption could later face competition from advanced tools. 'It's a critical moment for creators whereby if they do not embrace and collaborate with AI, they run the risk of competing with AI — which will be impossible.' Drawing parallels to shifts in the film industry, Malik noted how creatives have adapted before and must do so again to embrace AI's possibilities. 'I think we have had these shifts — analog to digital to virtual and now artificial,' he said. 'AI gives artists the power to be the masters of their own destiny, which is very important in the music industry.' Riyadh-based musician Lun encapsulates the cautious yet curious approach many artists are taking toward the rapidly evolving music landscape shaped by AI. 'I have not used AI before in my own music because I never thought I needed to. But as a tool, it can be of help,' he told Arab News. While intrigued by AI's potential, Lun highlighted ethical concerns that remain central to discussions across the industry. 'If an artist uses it to help with something they're stuck on — to compile ideas so they can come up with an original part on their own — then I don't see any harm in it,' he said. 'But if they use the tool to write the entire thing from A to Z, then I think we have a problem because it is no longer the artist who composed it, regardless of how they spin it.'
