EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

KSA’s annual XP Music Futures goal is to expand opportunities for music industry professionals of all backgrounds, inspire future generations, and help lay the groundwork for establishing equitable industry policies for growth in the MENA region.

The second edition of XP Music Futures was held in Riyadh on November 28 - 30, 2022. More than 2,500 people from 30 countries attended the three-day event, which included the XP Day and XP Nite programs. XP Day featured 228 speakers and 76 conference sessions, and XP Nite showcased 157 local and regional acts, with 291 individual artists sharing the stage over three nights of performances.

The XP Outcomes Report highlights vital takeaways from XP Day and XP Nite Programs. The Report delivers insights and critical facts into the MENA music industry and how XP is shaping one of the fastest-growing music regions in the world.

This report illustrates the essential pillars that make music culture and outlines a roadmap for the future of music. These building blocks are TALENT, SCENE, IMPACT, and INNOVATION. These building blocks shape the XP Day and Nite programming, from the interactive workshops, panels, networking sessions, and multiple nightlife performances from the best regional and international labels and artists.

Each of the TALENT sessions at XP Day delivered insights on creating opportunities for next-generation artists, the world-class music education in MENA, and how local and regional artists are doing the impossible.

The SCENE sessions at XP Day focused on developing MENA’s music culture and identity, and creating a robust music economy. SCENE sessions highlighted the rethinking of event tourism, creating new platforms for regional conversations, music media’s critical role in uncovering stories behind the scene, and the grassroots communities that are pioneering spaces for artists, creatives, and musicians to experiment, connect, inspire and create.

Delivering a better understanding of music ecosystems, sustainability, equality, diversity, and social equity was the feature of the IMPACT sessions at XP Day. Knowledge exchange ranged from social and climate activism, sharing skills transnationally, rescinding existing boundaries to allow progress, and IFPI launching The Official MENA Chart at XP, demonstrating inclusive, representative, and accurate charting.

Tech pioneers anchored in disruption and development defined influence in transforming the region in the INNOVATION sessions at XP Day. Some of the world’s leading tech innovators and creative technologists analyzed the re-making of the festival reality, why MENA is at the forefront of unlocking the power of Web3, and how virtual artists and beings are changing the game in the AI-driven metaverse.

XP Music Futures is uncovering the unseen to the rest of the world, positioning it as a special addition to the global music conference calendar. XP is certain to provide a gateway to an exciting new wave of artists and music rising out of KSA and MENA.

XP Music Futures was produced by MDLBEAST with the support of XP partners Music Commission, JAX District, Noor Riyadh, EMPIRE, Dolby, SceneNoise, Sony Music, Spotify, Alo Yoga and SOWT.