Latest news with #XPMusicFutures
Vogue Arabia
2 days ago
- Business
- Vogue Arabia
Breaking Records: Reflections From MDLBEAST's Ramadan Alharatani
Back in the 90s during the early days of satellite TV, Ramadan Alharatani would record mixtapes when music debuted on MTV, and sell them at gift shops. Then, when he went to high school in the United States, he would return to Saudi during holidays with suitcases full of CDs that hadn't yet reached local stores, reselling them at his uncle's record shop. He never imagined that his personal passion for music would evolve into something more. 'It's still hard to grasp that what was once an underground music scene in my hometown, Jeddah, would evolve to a thriving music scene globally,' says Alharatani, who, as CEO of MDLBEAST, has helped elevate the local industry to global prominence. It all started with Soundstorm – a milestone for musical performances in the Kingdom. 'It was the first public event where men and women could be in the same space, enjoying live music together at scale. It marked a cultural shift and opened the door for a more inclusive music entertainment offering,' he reflects. In 2021, the event saw 700,000 attendees over four days, becoming a large-scale, multi-genre festival attracting visitors from Saudi and beyond. MDLBEAST's other flagship events – XP Music Futures, Balad Beast and A Thousand and One – spotlight talent while also supporting the next generation of Saudi artists through workshops and networking opportunities. And, its record label helps emerging Saudi talent release original music and reach global audiences. The platform has brought international stars to Saudi's sands too, from Eminem and Metallica to Camila Cabello and David Guetta. 'One thing global performers consistently highlight is the electric energy of Saudi crowds, who are young, passionate and deeply engaged,' shares Alharatani. Photo: MDLBEAST MDLBEAST is elevating the nation's offering of music festivals and events, and it's doing so within a cultural framework. At Keinemusik in AlUla for instance, the programme incorporated prayer breaks. 'This balance of global and local is key to our identity,' says Alharatani. 'Ultimately, music creates a sense of community. On the dance floor, people from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries come together, united by a shared love for music. It's in those moments that we focus on what connects us, not what separates us. With lights that illuminate the desert sky, and added effects from drones, pyrotechnics, lasers and massive LED screens, the festival has made international headlines as a 'Saudi rave'. This year, MDLBEAST plans to inaugurate a HiFi listening bar in Jeddah's historic Al-Balad as well as a members-only pool club concept, in addition to ongoing Esports World Cup and Formula 1 events. The momentum is only escalating, according to Alharatani: 'We're excited to keep growing, breaking Arab artists internationally, expanding our reach and working with partners to continue building a creative and subcultural ecosystem for the next generation.'
Identity
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Identity
XCHANGE Doha by the MDLBEAST Foundation Marks a Milestone for Doha's Growing Music Scene
The MDLBEAST Foundation, in partnership with XP Music Futures and ONE DAY AT A TIME (ODAAT), is proud to announce the success of XCHANGE Doha, held on May 1st, 2025, at BIBO. The event brought together Doha's music community for a day of connection, discovery, and growth, focusing on the city's evolving music scene. The event kicked off with a panel discussion titled 'Shaping Doha's Music Narrative,' moderated by Saadi Al Suwaidi. The panel featured key figures like Dimitri Khater, CEO of Hide, and rising artist Sahera, alongside ODAAT's Joe Abou Rjaili. They discussed the opportunities and challenges facing Doha's music industry, highlighting the potential for growth and the need for stronger community support. Dimitri Khater noted, 'Doha has changed a lot in the past years. It's a diverse city, which creates opportunities for the country to introduce different cultures and music to the local market.' His insights emphasized how the city's evolving identity offers a fertile ground for musical innovation and cultural exchange. Joe Abou Rjaili echoed this sentiment, adding, 'We're creating a space for local DJs and producers while tapping into niche communities, giving them a chance to express themselves through music. It's all about building something underground—we meet new artists, DJs, and producers every week.' His perspective highlighted the importance of grassroots efforts in fostering an inclusive and dynamic music scene. The evening continued with an interactive workshop, providing participants with valuable insights and skills to enhance their music careers. The event concluded with an unforgettable XP Nite, featuring live performances by Sahera, Rana, Saadi Al Suwaidi, and DJ sets from Elios and AMR, capturing the city's vibrant music culture.
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.'
Syyaha
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Syyaha
MDLBEAST Foundation Continues Revolutionizing Music Ecosystem in the MENA Region with a Rich Agenda in 2025
MDLBEAST Foundation has announced its ambitious plans for 2025, solidifying its position as a leading driver of the music industry in the MENA region. Building on four successful editions, MDLBEAST Foundation is pioneering a new era of transformation, collaboration, and innovation, with a focus on humanity, sustainability, and conscious part of this vision, the MDLBEAST Foundation hosted an exclusive gala at Attache, an unforgettable evening of entertainment and celebration. The event welcomed over 180+ distinguished guests, including industry leaders, celebrities, and influential figures from the music world, setting the stage for a year of groundbreaking initiatives. Nada Alhelabi, the General Manager of MDLBEAST Foundation, expressed: 'We are committed to advancing the music industry through innovative research, sustainable practices, and meaningful collaborations. Our XP initiatives in 2025 are designed to create shared value for all members of the music community. This year, we are proud to complement these efforts with initiatives such as our HUNNA mentorship program, the XPERFORM talent competition, and the XCHANGE workshop series. Each of these reflects our mission to support emerging talent and foster a vibrant, sustainable music ecosystem.' Empowering the Ecosystem: MDLBEAST Foundation Key Highlights in 2024 and 2025 Plans In 2024, MDLBEAST Foundation initiatives made significant strides in empowering the music ecosystem in the MENA region. Key highlights include:XP Music Futures: Hosted the fourth edition of the premier music conference in the region, bringing together industry experts, artists, producers, labels, and music enthusiasts. Pioneering New Milestones in 2025 XP Music Futures conference will return for its fifth edition, bringing together industry experts, artists, producers, labels, and music enthusiasts for the region's leading three-day music conference. This flagship event remains central to our mission of scaling the music industry across Our hearing health awareness initiative conducted over 140 hearing tests and diagnosed 13 individuals with hearing difficulties in 2024, emphasizing the importance of hearing health awareness. The initiative focusing on tinnitus awareness and prevention, will continue its mission of safeguarding hearing health. In collaboration with Arabtone, we aim to expand our efforts to offer hearing tests and provide earplugs at XP and Soundstorm events. XCHANGE: a dynamic series of workshops touring the Middle East, hosted sessions in Kuwait City, Tunis, and Muscat throughout 2024, bringing together over 200 music professionals and fostering regional collaboration. XCHANGE kicked off its 2025 tour on February 6th in Manama, Bahrain, marking the start of an expanded journey across the region. The tour will continue in Doha, Marrakech, and Riyadh, providing a platform for industry professionals to connect, exchange ideas, and drive the music scene forward. Each city will host a Hunna gathering, bringing together women in the industry for collective forums. The workshop in Manama, titled 'Musician & Multi-Disciplinary Creative Artist Performing,' will feature a distinguished lineup of panelists, including Ali Zayani, Co-founder of Soundscapes; Mashael Fairooz, Founding Partner of JEO Capital Management; Lance Tobin, Vice President of Booking at Al Dana Amphitheatre; and Wrista, Recording Artist & Founder of L.O.A.D.B Productions. Sound Futures: XP Sound Futures initiative connects eligible music startups with investors to drive innovation in the music ecosystem. In 2024, six startups pitched to investors at XP, and we will open a new call for applications in March 2025. This initiative is a cornerstone of our efforts to expand business opportunities within the music CHORD: Launched in 2024 at XP Music Futures, PWR CHORD featured 10 talented guitarists performing before a panel of six renowned judges, including world-famous guitarists. The winner received a unique signed guitar from Megadeth's lead guitarist, marking a major milestone in their Discovered and elevated fresh talent, offering a platform for new voices, with Lamia Khattab winning in 2024 and earning a performance at Soundstorm'24 and a 2025 collaboration with MDLBEAST Records. Lamia Khattab won and stood out amongst more than 1000 individuals representing more than 36 nationalities. Returning for its fourth edition to discover and elevate fresh new Shaker: The search for the next breakthrough DJ returns in 2025, culminating in a thrilling final competition at XP in December. The winner will debut at Soundstorm and embark on an international tour as the grand prize. Last year's winner, Saadoon, is already scheduled to perform in O- -Beach Dubai, EXIT Festival, MOGA, and BSMNT The Club, after performing at Management Bootcamp: Graduated 35 participants, equipping them with comprehensive artist management knowledge, with top graduates securing internships at Sony Music, Warner Music, and MDLBEAST Records, nurturing the next generation of industry leaders, We aim to expand this program further in 2025, empowering future leaders in the its mission to scale and empower the regional music ecosystem, MDLBEAST's XP has outlined a series of impactful initiatives for 2025, including the continuation of Hearful to promote hearing health, the launch of XCHANGE workshops in 3 new destinations, Manama, Doha & Marrakesh to foster collaboration and support women in the industry through Hunna gatherings, and the expansion of Sound Futures to connect music startups with investors. Other initiatives include XPERFORM, aimed at discovering new voices; Storm Shaker, a DJ competition culminating in international tours; and the Artist Management Bootcamp to nurture the next generation of industry further noted: 'Through these initiatives, MDLBEAST Foundation is not only shaping the future of music in Saudi Arabia and the region but also contributing to the development of a global music industry that is innovative, inclusive, and resilient.''We extend our gratitude to our community and partners who share our mission to elevate the music industry in the region. As we embark on our 2025 journey, we invite new partners to join us in scaling and fortifying the music ecosystem through XP initiatives', Alhelabi added. Nite Ventures (New Initiative): This year, we are launching Nite Ventures, an initiative dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, event promoters, and venue owners to create and launch new nightlife events, shaping Riyadh's growing entertainment scene. Additionally, will support the emerging Riyadh nightlife concepts and event creators.
