AMY THOMSON

“Don’t let data scare you,” says music executive Amy Thomson. After representing acts such as the Gorillaz, DJ Snake, and Swedish House Mafia, Thomson now manages Hipgnosis’ song catalog, worth over $2 billion. Her passion for data transparency and empowering the next generation of artists was evident at the XP Music Futures session, Streaming Revenues and Leveraging Online Data for Maximum Profits. Two essential lessons from Thomson outlined how music creators can protect their work and receive the returns they deserve:

“Songs are assets for life,” but artists and songwriters need data to benefit. An array of codes linked to each song—IPIs, IPNs, ISNIs, ISRCs, and ISWCs—determine payment of royalties. And incorrect codes mean missed payments. Thomson observes that “35% of codes for writers get lost or broken, and that’s because people aren’t getting their coding right.” She urges artists to check their codes without delay: “In ten years, when you’ve had three hit albums, you’ll be devastated that you didn’t take the time.”

“Embrace your data, but don’t let it change you.” Thomson encouraged listeners to use streaming and audience data to devise strategies around releases and promotion—but not to let it dictate their artistic vision and voice. In her eyes, data provides a means for “musical freedom,” steady growth, and a sustainable career journey.

INCLUSIVE, REPRESENTATIVE, ACCURATE CHARTING

The first regional music streaming chart in the world and the first ever official chart in MENA, The Official MENA Chart was launched during XP 2022. Devised by chart compiler BMAT in accordance with global charts authority IFPI’s principles and methodologies, The Official MENA Chart captures music streaming from 13 markets across the region, encompassing more than 300 million people. Drawing on Anghami, Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, and YouTube streaming data, the chart celebrates the week’s most popular songs, putting the global spotlight on MENA, the world’s fastest-growing music region.

Break The Glass Ceiling

Suspending cultural norms, proud Muslim woman Hijab DJ rocked Zanzibar’s music scene by becoming the first female DJ in Tanzania. Leveraging her success, she asserts: “We need to rise up for those women who feel scared of how their society and family will take them when they are doing what they want. We need to support them so that they can represent themselves to society.”

Sharing Skills Transnationally

Supercharging and inspiring Saudis firstwave producers, Afrojack’s WALL Camp invites rising producers and DJs to join forces with globally experienced artists in specialized studio environments. As Afrojack sums up, “I’ve always been interested in artist development, and I believe that with the right tools and right information, you can help anyone become the artist they aspire to be. When I heard they are developing local cultural talent in Saudi Arabia, I wanted to be part of it because there is so much potential here.”

Intertwine Social And Climate Activism

MTN Bushfire is one of Africa’s best-known multicultural music and arts festivals. MTN Bushfire’s call to action, BRING YOUR FIRE, combines social and climate activism on a festival-size scale in the Kingdom of Eswatini. “We use the creative platform to drive pertinent issues,” emphasized performance poet, artist, and visionary festival director, Jiggs Thorne. The festival is shaping the artistic landscape of the Southern African region and beyond.

Eliminate Plastic

Campaigning for a sustainability revolution in the entire music industry, Bye Bye Plastic’s initiative, Eco-Rider, is encouraging artists to demand singleuse, plastic-free DJ booths at festivals and events.

Grow The Next Generation

By implementing mentorship programs and solidifying female-led networks, women in leadership can direct gender expectations in the music industry. Younger women are encouraged to take on leadership roles: “There are women who lead,” says Sybel Vazquez, Head of Cultural Programming of the Arts Club Dubai. “If anything, it should inspire women in our various jobs: Look, these jobs are available to women. I can do that.”

Celebrate Equity

Ensure diverse representation from festival to party line-ups, radio shows, podcasts to executive boards, conference panels to workshops. Diversity creates a better music ecosystem. Call out imbalanced programming and incorporate inclusivity clauses in agreements.

Create A Strong Legal Framework

“There should be collective management organizations that are backed by governments, by national law, that enforce licenses,” advises IFPI’s regional director Rawan Al Dabbas. “We need there to be legal music. That’s how you attract people to come in and say, I’m going to invest money in this because I know that there’s a framework that protects me.”

Reimagine The Role Of Women

There is a negative association between women and nightlife in the MENA region. Establishing oneself as a female artist, DJ and producer is a challenge. While pioneering women are creating positive images of themselves as artists, executives, and promoters, a significant cultural shift needs to happen.

Make Sustainability A Top Priority

“There is a good initial engagement, but we need to get to the next stages, we need more industry collaboration,” says Camille Guitteau, Co-Founder of Bye Bye Plastic. Regarding the status quo in Saudi Arabia, founder and CEO of Sangha “Estidama Hub” Raghad Fathaddin adds: “We are at a phase where we are still raising awareness on the narrative around sustainability. We are in a good place, but there’s so much yet to be done.”

Strengthen The Grassroots

“This is just such a new community, and it’s building up. I think there needs to be safe spaces where people can try, can experiment, where they feel good,” adds DJ, Producer & Cofounder of KNZLAB Omar Agha, highlighting the significance of small-scale incubator spaces in building a thriving and lasting music ecosystem from the bottom up.

Get The Data

To help raise awareness and support anecdotal accounts, data is essential. Data helps drive change. Research, evaluate and educate on all forms of inequity, including gender, race, and age.