XP Chief: “Most Exciting Time for the Music Industry in the Middle East, Ever”

“We are entering the most exciting time for the music industry in the Middle East, ever. The opportunity is enormous, the potential is being unlocked. What we need is a moment for the industry to come together to seize this chance with both hands. XP is that moment.”

That’s the message from XP Programme Director Nada Alhelabi, as first details of the music conference programme emerge. The three-day Saudi conference will welcome leading international and regional music industry executives, policy makers, artists and creatives. XP involves workshops, panel discussions and roundtables during the day, and nightlife events after dark.

Hot Topics

Programming for the event falls under four key pillars – talent, the scene, policy and social impact. Topics under talent include ‘Amplifying Music Futures – what does this new generation of creatives need to thrive?’ The discussion will focus on laying down the ingredients for success in the industry. A Q&A with Wassim Slaiby, Salvatore Ganacci and US producer Swizz Beats will follow.

‘It’s a real job, mama’ looks at how careers in the creative industries are limited for the region’s young people. Importantly, the discussion will explore ways to change the situation.

‘Supercharging Music Tourism –  Creating a sustainable new economy in KSA’ will dive into the changing landscape of the sharing economy and the companies striving to make access to events and entertainment easier. ‘How music can put a city on the global map’ will outline best practices in placemaking for music venues and festival sites.

‘Empowering Women in Music’ will explore the advantages of female representation and having a diverse workforce. Another topic up for debate is ‘The social and economic impact of the music industry on society’. It investigates the significant return on investment music has on cities across the world. And ‘Green Events, Green Planet’ will showcase progressive thinking within the events industry.

“We’re going to cover every corner of the industry with real outcomes and actions, which will have a genuine and positive impact in the regional music industry,” said Alhelabi.

Opportunity

Organised by the MDLBeast team, XP runs from 13th – 15th December in Riyadh. The conference precedes this year’s MDLBEAST Soundstorm festival. MDLBEAST CEO Ramadan Alharatani described XP as an “opportunity to contribute to building a new music and creative ecosystem that will offer benefits for all”.

Forecasts predict the Middle East and Africa music market will grow from $170 million in 2018 to $650 million in 2027. “This is the scale of the opportunity and the reason why XP exists,” said Alharatani, “to build the infrastructure to support and accelerate that growth. To ensure this, the XP programming has been curated to cover the most important topics we are faced with today.”

Tickets for XP are on sale now. There’s a variety of tickets to choose from – each offering a different level of access.

Photo: XP Programme Director Nada Alhelabi

Also read: Saudi Festival MDLBEAST Soundstorm Reveals Mighty DJ Line-Up