With an emphasis on industry evolution, inclusivity and creativity, XP Music Futures is the leading music conference in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This year’s conference is set to take place from 7th-9th December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the opening phase of speakers and talents involved now announced.

XP Music Futures is a rising organisation with the goal of elevating the exposure and augmenting the development of the music scene in the Middle East and North Africa, one of the fastest growing musical regions globally, with Saudi Arabia being at the forefront of its rise. Designed to aid the new generation of innovators, XP Music Futures are dedicated in providing educational content and networking opportunities.

This year’s programme promises an elevated level of intrigue and entertainment; the line up includes Emirati superstar Balqees Fathi, who will touch on all elements of her journey, from artistic inception to stardom, and global rap trailblazer Abyusif who will discuss the evolution of Arabic hop hop alongside scene pioneer Malikah.

Other names to feature include Japanese DJ and producer Satoshi Tomiee, who will be highlighted as part of a collaboration between French record label Yoyaki and Saudi collective Noctuary, and Egyptian producer El Waili courtesy of Saudi-based label Wall of Sound. Berlin-based DJ Paramida will be attending with Saudi collective Untamed, and Syrian disco duo TootArd will be illustrating their craft as part of Keife Records’ showcase.

Additionally, CEO of Reservoir Golnar Khosrowshahi will reveal all on shaping the first female-led independent music company in the US. Diversity has always been at the forefront of the conference, with the last edition obtaining a 44% representation of female speakers, and this year looks set to continue its progression nature.

XP have also announced their nine initiatives that are dedicated to educate the next wave of creatives breaking through in the industry, across each area of the ecosystem. Some of the stand out initiatives include: XPERFORM: In partnership with Youtube and sponsored by FORMULA 1 STC Saudi Arabian GRAND PRIX with the intention of uncovering the region’s best singing talent, XCHANGE, a series of workshops across four cities, taking place before the conference, aimed to promote community building, and HUNNA, a female-led mentorship mirroring XP’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.

The remaining initiatives are as follows:

-HEARFUL: Raising awareness about each health the initiative aims to educate people on prevention methods.
-XINE: The outcomes of XCHANGE workshops are presented through a magazine summarising the outcomes of the research.
-Sound Futures: Invites musicians and innovators to pitch ideas to successful industry investors.
-XP AIR: A streaming container on-site that will host interviews, sets and farer brand takeovers.
-Artist Management Bootcamp: Intensive manager bootcamp program followed by a mentorship with a globally renowned manager for six candidates.
-Storm Shaker: DJs can submit their sets for a chance to perform at Soundstorm festival by MDLBEAST.

With an already impressive reputation, this year’s XP Music Futures conference looks poised to captivate attendees more than ever, with sessions, workshops and countless networking opportunities. Open to music enthusiasts and professionals across the globe and of all ages, XP is a must attend for passionate individuals looking to help shape the future of the industry.

Find out more and buy tickets here.