Latest news with #RiyadhMusicWeek
The National
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
How Saudi Arabia is composing a new future for its music industry
For a glimpse into the future of Saudi Arabia's music industry, step inside the newly opened Saudi Music Hub. The multi-purpose venue in the heart of Riyadh features recording studios, a performance hall, a music library and ample spaces for rehearsals and workshops. But it's in the maze of meeting rooms where some of the most significant steps towards building a thriving music sector are taking place. In one room, members of the International Music Managers Forum – a global network for self-managed artists and their managers – are deep in discussion with the president of its newly established Saudi chapter. Elsewhere, international producers and festival organisers are meeting Saudi organisations to develop new projects across the kingdom. Overseeing the activity with quiet satisfaction is Paul Pacifico, chief executive of Saudi Arabia's Music Commission. Operating under the auspices of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture, the commission's remit is to develop the kingdom's music sector – from regulating and establishing music institutions to promoting Saudi music domestically and abroad. It's a broad mandate, but like the best of music, progress happens when collaboration takes the lead. "It's the networking effect and it's about bringing people from different parts of the industry – I am talking about key domestic, regional and international stakeholders – together to have these important conversations," Pacifico tells The National. "In my experience, it seems that every other policy discussion about music begins with someone in the room saying something along the lines of 'if we are able to build the music industry today, we wouldn't have done it the way it is now'. I feel that what we are trying to do here in Saudi Arabia is making that effort to build an industry through a 21st century lens." Five years since the commission's establishment, these advances are clear to see and hear. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, music classes were introduced in public schools in 2022, starting with children in kindergarten. The Saudi Arabian National Orchestra and Choir, established in 2021, has already performed in major cities including Paris, New York, London and Tokyo. Efforts to preserve the kingdom's musical heritage are also under way through the commission's establishment of the Saudi Music Memory Initiative, which reportedly aims to document music and lyrics from Saudi artists dating back to the mid 1980s. Many of these initiatives were showcased and reinforced during December's Riyadh Music Week, a series of events curated by the commission. The programme included industry summits such as XP Music Futures and the Music Cities Convention, alongside major spectacles like the 2024 Billboard Arabia Music Awards and the massive Soundstorm music festival. The scope and ambition already on display have been instructive, Pacifico notes: 'Initiatives like Riyadh Music Week put welcome pressure on us domestically to get certain things done. These are big, immovable deadlines – and we all know that without them, things can start to drift.' While these events bring industry leaders and stars to the kingdom, the foundation of a sustainable music industry is being laid offstage – driven by data analysis and long-term planning. As a former chief executive of the Association of Independent Music in the UK and an accomplished harmonica player, Pacifico says Saudi Arabia's music sector must be shaped to meet the demands of a fast-changing and tech-driven global industry. "Great houses are built on strong foundations, and in today's music industry those foundations are data," he says. "But the global data set – who owns what, who wrote what, who performed on what – is woefully inadequate. In fact, even 10 years ago, the Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship published a report estimating that about 25 per cent of global music revenues go to the wrong people due to poor data. Now, we're building a new music industry for the 21st century using 21st-century technology. Saudi Arabia has the opportunity to lead – its data set should be the most accurate in the world. If we build the right digital and physical infrastructure, this could be an extraordinary leapfrog moment for the kingdom.' Some of the key projects include working towards establishing a local collective management organisation to collect royalties for commercially used work and collaborating with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property to strengthen copyright regulations. It's arduous and painstaking work, but Pacifico believes its impact will leave an immeasurable legacy. 'How do you make 'fair' fairer?' he asks. 'That's the real challenge. Mature markets have to break old systems to build better ones. Here, we're starting fresh. That's both a responsibility and an advantage. 'Saudi Arabia already has an incredibly rich musical heritage,' Pacifico adds. 'Our job is to ensure that value is properly recognised, reflected and compensated.'
Tahawul Tech
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Tahawul Tech
Tech To Make Riyadh Epicentre of MENA Music by 2030
Just a week after watching superstars including Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce make global headlines at the 67th GRAMMY Awards, the head of the organisation behind the annual music awards jetted into Saudi Arabia to speak on the second day of DeepFest 2025, the world's leading artificial intelligence (AI) conference, and left no doubt about his expectations regarding Riyadh's role in the future of the music industry. Panos Panay, President of the Recording Academy, has been visiting the Kingdom for several years yet still finds it 'incredible' to note the transformation of the country and its capital each time he returns. Citing Riyadh Music Week and the growth of MDLBEAST, the Saudi-based entertainment company rooted in music culture, Panay made a bold prediction at DeepFest, the four-day show co-located with LEAP, the Kingdom's award-winning global tech event running until 12 February at Riyadh International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham. 'Just seeing this massive explosion of the music scene, I have absolutely no doubt that within the next five years, Riyadh will become the music epicentre of the entire region,' Panay said. 'It will be the Los Angeles of the Middle East, undoubtedly.' The Recording Academy launched the Latin Grammys 25 years ago, and Panay – who was born and raised in Cyprus – says one of his missions as president is to help music and its creators in the Middle East and North Africa gain traction globally. 'Frankly, and maybe it's because I am from the region, I don't think there is an area on the planet that is richer in heritage and in musicality than the broader Middle East and North Africa,' he said. 'There's 400 million people that speak Arabic, so it's only a matter of time before you see an Arabic star become what K Pop is – a global idiom embraced by everybody.' Panay added the likelihood is being accelerated by the development of AI and streaming platforms, which enable more creativity, wider connections, and enhanced visibility – despite 400,000 new songs being added to Spotify daily. 'That's an overwhelming amount of content, but I remember when there was no way as an artist to reach an audience unless you went through traditional routes, so technology is undoubtedly an enabler,' he added. 'And I'm sure there's entrepreneurs – hopefully at this very conference – that are working on better ways for emerging artists to better target audiences.' UN Chief Says AI Enables Us To Focus On Our 'Unique' Human Qualities Bringing together AI innovators and transformation leaders, DeepFest 2025 is featuring more than 150 speakers and 120 exhibitors, attracting an attendance exceeding 50,000 participants from around the world. The second of four days lasered in on the pros, cons, benefits, and pitfalls of AI on life and society. Lambert Hogenhout, Chief Data and AI at the United Nations, assessed the dystopian and utopian beliefs of the technology in a session focused on the near- and long-term societal impact of emerging technologies. Acknowledging that AI had allowed humans to 'become knowledgeable about any topic, in minutes', he also addressed the belief that a reliance on AI will change the way we behave, think, and feel. While admitting it is hard to predict how AI will impact society in 20-plus years, it is the impact of over the next decade that will make a difference to the way we work and live. 'Don't forget we've already had tech that has changed who we are,' he said. 'Think smartphones: They changed how we work, how we communicate, how we navigate cities.' Hogenhout challenged those with a dystopian belief of AI, and those who think it will take away our autonomy, identity and purpose: 'Think of a calendar app, for example. Think of an AI tool to help with letter writing or emails. We are getting assistance in our productivity, which frees up time. If everyone starts to do that, can you afford not to? Can you afford to be the only non-augmented human?' Tackling the belief that AI will remove our abilities to think and feel, taking away identity and purpose, the AI expert added the use of AI will allow society to instead focus on things that matter, including fulfilment, connection and inclusion. 'It will give us time to look at our unique qualities as humans – cooperation, creativity, and entrepreneurship,' he concluded. Dr Yaser Al Onaizan, CEO of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), which powers the Tahaluf-organised DeepFest 2025, opened the second day of sessions, with a reassurance that AI can have real-time, real-life benefits. After years of talking about the technology, actions will speak louder than words, he said. 'To be really effective, AI should be invisible,' Al Onaizan said. 'It should allow us to take a back seat and do things on our behalf.' Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf, reiterated the importance of attracting regional and global talent to the event and how AI is transforming every corner of the industry; 'The keynote sessions at DeepFest are testament to the positive impact AI is having on the tech industry, but also how transformative applications are shaping entertainment, the arts, and even humanitarian efforts. As we move into the final two days, visitors can look forward to more engaging discussions around quantum computing, how women are breaking industry barriers, and real-life case studies on how AI is revolutionising healthcare.' For more information, visit
TECHx
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- TECHx
AI Drives Riyadh's Rise as Music Epicenter - TECHx Media AI Drives Riyadh's Rise as Music Epicenter
AI Drives Riyadh's Rise as Music Epicenter Just one week after global icons Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé made headlines at the 67th GRAMMY Awards, Panos Panay, President of the Recording Academy, flew into Saudi Arabia to deliver a compelling message on the future of the music industry at DeepFest 2025. The world's leading artificial intelligence (AI) conference, which runs alongside the prestigious LEAP tech event, is taking place at the Riyadh International Exhibition and Convention Centre until February 12, 2025. Panay, who has been visiting the Kingdom for several years, shared his amazement at Riyadh's remarkable transformation. Citing events like Riyadh Music Week and the rapid growth of MDLBEAST, a Saudi-based entertainment company, he made a bold prediction for the future of music in the region. 'I have absolutely no doubt that within the next five years, Riyadh will become the music epicenter of the entire region,' Panay remarked. 'It will be the Los Angeles of the Middle East, undoubtedly.' As the President of the Recording Academy, Panay also emphasized his mission to amplify the music scene in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region globally. 'There's no area on the planet richer in heritage and musicality than the MENA region,' said Panay. 'With 400 million Arabic speakers, it's only a matter of time before an Arabic star reaches global stardom, much like K-pop has.' AI and streaming platforms are key factors accelerating this transformation. Panay believes that technological advancements are enabling greater creativity and wider visibility for emerging artists, despite the staggering number of 400,000 new songs being added to Spotify daily. 'It's an overwhelming amount of content, but technology is undoubtedly an enabler,' he noted. 'I'm sure entrepreneurs here are already working on better ways for emerging artists to connect with audiences.' DeepFest 2025 is bringing together AI innovators and industry leaders from around the world, featuring over 150 speakers and 120 exhibitors. The event, which attracted more than 50,000 participants on its second day, has been a platform for discussing the societal impact of AI and its applications in diverse industries. Lambert Hogenhout, Chief Data and AI at the United Nations, discussed AI's potential to enhance human productivity, citing examples such as AI-assisted calendar apps and writing tools. He urged those with dystopian views of AI to reconsider, emphasizing how AI could allow society to focus on creativity, fulfillment, and connection. Dr. Yaser Al Onaizan, CEO of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), also addressed the event, highlighting the real-world benefits of AI and its transformative potential. 'To be really effective, AI should be invisible,' Al Onaizan stated, underscoring the need for AI to seamlessly support human tasks. Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf, reiterated how AI is reshaping various industries, from entertainment to healthcare, and how DeepFest is highlighting the positive impact of AI in these sectors. As DeepFest continues through February 12, visitors can expect more insightful discussions on quantum computing, women breaking barriers in the tech industry, and case studies on AI's role in revolutionizing healthcare. The future of music in Riyadh is just beginning, and AI is playing a crucial role in shaping it.
Zawya
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
Tech to make Riyadh epicentre of MENA music by 2030, Grammy Awards President tells DeepFest 2025
Chief of Data and AI at United Nations dismisses dystopian notions and hails AI's ability to help humans focus on 'unique' qualities such as creativity and entrepreneurship Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Just a week after watching superstars including Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce make global headlines at the 67th GRAMMY Awards, the head of the organisation behind the annual music awards jetted into Saudi Arabia to speak on the second day of DeepFest 2025, the world's leading artificial intelligence (AI) conference, and left no doubt about his expectations regarding Riyadh's role in the future of the music industry. Panos Panay, President of the Recording Academy, has been visiting the Kingdom for several years yet still finds it 'incredible' to note the transformation of the country and its capital each time he returns. Citing Riyadh Music Week and the growth of MDLBEAST, the Saudi-based entertainment company rooted in music culture, Panay made a bold prediction at DeepFest, the four-day show co-located with LEAP, the Kingdom's award-winning global tech event running until 12 February at Riyadh International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham. 'Just seeing this massive explosion of the music scene, I have absolutely no doubt that within the next five years, Riyadh will become the music epicentre of the entire region,' Panay said. 'It will be the Los Angeles of the Middle East, undoubtedly.' The Recording Academy launched the Latin Grammys 25 years ago, and Panay – who was born and raised in Cyprus – says one of his missions as president is to help music and its creators in the Middle East and North Africa gain traction globally. 'Frankly, and maybe it's because I am from the region, I don't think there is an area on the planet that is richer in heritage and in musicality than the broader Middle East and North Africa,' he said. 'There's 400 million people that speak Arabic, so it's only a matter of time before you see an Arabic star become what K Pop is – a global idiom embraced by everybody.' Panay added the likelihood is being accelerated by the development of AI and streaming platforms, which enable more creativity, wider connections, and enhanced visibility – despite 400,000 new songs being added to Spotify daily. 'That's an overwhelming amount of content, but I remember when there was no way as an artist to reach an audience unless you went through traditional routes, so technology is undoubtedly an enabler,' he added. 'And I'm sure there's entrepreneurs – hopefully at this very conference – that are working on better ways for emerging artists to better target audiences.' UN Chief Says AI Enables Us To Focus On Our 'Unique' Human Qualities Bringing together AI innovators and transformation leaders, DeepFest 2025 is featuring more than 150 speakers and 120 exhibitors, attracting an attendance exceeding 50,000 participants from around the world. The second of four days lasered in on the pros, cons, benefits, and pitfalls of AI on life and society. Lambert Hogenhout, Chief Data and AI at the United Nations, assessed the dystopian and utopian beliefs of the technology in a session focused on the near- and long-term societal impact of emerging technologies. Acknowledging that AI had allowed humans to 'become knowledgeable about any topic, in minutes', he also addressed the belief that a reliance on AI will change the way we behave, think, and feel. While admitting it is hard to predict how AI will impact society in 20-plus years, it is the impact of over the next decade that will make a difference to the way we work and live. 'Don't forget we've already had tech that has changed who we are,' he said. 'Think smartphones: They changed how we work, how we communicate, how we navigate cities.' Hogenhout challenged those with a dystopian belief of AI, and those who think it will take away our autonomy, identity and purpose: 'Think of a calendar app, for example. Think of an AI tool to help with letter writing or emails. We are getting assistance in our productivity, which frees up time. If everyone starts to do that, can you afford not to? Can you afford to be the only non-augmented human?' Tackling the belief that AI will remove our abilities to think and feel, taking away identity and purpose, the AI expert added the use of AI will allow society to instead focus on things that matter, including fulfilment, connection and inclusion.'It will give us time to look at our unique qualities as humans – cooperation, creativity, and entrepreneurship,' he concluded. Dr Yaser Al Onaizan, CEO of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), which powers the Tahaluf-organised DeepFest 2025, opened the second day of sessions, with a reassurance that AI can have real-time, real-life benefits. After years of talking about the technology, actions will speak louder than words, he said. 'To be really effective, AI should be invisible,' Al Onaizan said. 'It should allow us to take a back seat and do things on our behalf.' Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf, reiterated the importance of attracting regional and global talent to the event and how AI is transforming every corner of the industry; 'The keynote sessions at DeepFest are testament to the positive impact AI is having on the tech industry, but also how transformative applications are shaping entertainment, the arts, and even humanitarian efforts. As we move into the final two days, visitors can look forward to more engaging discussions around quantum computing, how women are breaking industry barriers, and real-life case studies on how AI is revolutionising healthcare.' For more information, visit About LEAP: Saudi Arabia's desire to shoot for something beyond the realms of the possible presents the ultimate backdrop for LEAP. LEAP showcases the Kingdom's technology ambition on a global stage as it continues to grow as a hub connecting three continents. The figures speak from themselves as LEAP 2024 had an attendance of over 215,000, making it the most attended tech event in the world. LEAP features the inspiring tech of tomorrow across all major sectors including health, finance, energy, education, digital entertainment, transport, smart cities and more. The event is also led by a speaker faculty of globally celebrated technology innovators, focussing on the most innovative tech case studies from around the world. LEAP is not like any other tech event, from the ground up the community, stakeholders and project team are challenged every day to do something wildly creative and bold, something that reflects the seismic advances in tech adoption being seen in Saudi Arabia. About Tahaluf: Headquartered in Riyadh, Tahaluf brings together strategically important commercial communities from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the wider Gulf region, and from around the world to a portfolio of world-class exhibitions and digital platforms. Tahaluf is a joint venture partnership between Informa PLC, the world's largest trade show organiser, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and Events Investment Fund (EIF). Sela, the Saudi-owned event production company renowned for its creation of spectacular event experiences, intends to join the joint venture in the near future. In 2024 Tahaluf was responsible for the award-winning tech events LEAP & DeepFest, as well as 24 Fintech, the Global Health Exhibition, Cityscape Global, Black Hat MEA and CPHI. For more information about Tahaluf, visit
