MDLBEAST’s XP Music Futures unveils the first phase of its speaker lineup, with keynote speakers such as Amy Thomson, Mathew Knowles, Hardwell, Elyanna, and Lil Eazy set to bring incredible and enlightening discussions to Riyadh for this year’s conference, taking place 28-30 November.
XP Music Futures is leading the charge towards building a thriving musical ecosystem in the MENA region. With workshops, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and multiple nightlife activations, XP is expanding pathways for music industry professionals of all backgrounds. This conference enables the region’s artists, designers, entrepreneurs, and policy-makers to shape their musical path, while inviting the global industry for a future of collaborative efforts.
The one-of-a-kind industry event is confirmed to welcome renowned keynote speakers representing diverse backgrounds. This year’s conference will bring together artistic talent, record labels, music executives, and industry leaders to explore the region’s emerging nightlife industry. All sessions will fall under the four main building blocks that XP considers vital for the development of the Middle East’s music culture and economy: Talent, Impact, Scene, and Innovation.
This year’s keynote speakers include Mathew Knowles, the architect of Destiny’s Child and his daughters Beyoncé and Solange Knowles’ early solo careers. In his motivational keynote, ‘Reinvention & Relevance: Building Longevity in Your Career with Mathew Knowles’, Mathew will be offering tips to Saudi and regional talent on how to breathe life into their music and entertainment career, ensuring a strong foundation that is built for long-term success.
Amy Thomson, the globally recognized former manager of the Swedish House Mafia, will also be joining the speaker lineup at this year’s XP Music Futures. Amy now fights tooth and nail for the representation of musicians and creators at Hipgnosis, the largest independent song fund in the world, and will be hosting a session titled ‘Fair Pay & Fair Play: Understanding Music Royalties’.
Taking action to ensure a sustainable and healthy music industry, XP Music Futures will also initiate conversations around mental health and wellbeing. Amongst the speakers covering this important topic is Dutch superstar DJ and Revealed Recordings founder, Hardwell. Titled ‘Wellness for the Constantly Creative Mind,’ the informal one-on-one conversation will shed light on Hardwell’s mental health struggles and how he’s doing things differently since his return to the music industry.
Additional keynote speakers include Lil Eazy, the Jeddah-based rapper, and hip hop artist, who will host the session ‘Creating a Hit Song: Formula Vs. Trend,’ as well as Elyanna, who will be engaging with the audience about her personal and professional experiences as a Palestinian-Chilean singer in a candid session titled ‘Pro Experience.’
Discussing this year’s inspiring lineup, Nada Alhelabi, Director of XP Music Conference said:“We are thrilled to be able to bring the greatest minds from the international music industry together to connect with XP Music Future’s community. For a second year running, we will discuss and gain mission-critical insight into the opportunities and challenges of accelerating the regional creative music scene we have today.”
XP Music Futures will be kickstarting the loudest week of Riyadh, taking place on November 28-30, ahead of the giant SOUNDSTORM festival, and beginning right after the event. Music professionals and fans can get their tickets here: https://mdlbeast.com/events/xp-2022 starting September 24, 2022.
