Must-Attend Talks At Riyadh's XP Music Futures 2025

XP Music Futures is gearing up for what promises to be its most expansive and immersive edition yet, with the 2025 programme anchored by one core theme: collaboration as the engine for accelerating creative growth across the MENA region. Returning to JAX District in Riyadh between December 4th and 6th, the event has expanded its scope, bringing together artists, leading cultural institutions, global platforms and industry innovators under one roof. 

Since its debut edition in 2021, the conference has aimed to fast-track talent development and chart a path towards a sustainable and resilient music ecosystem, doing so by bridging sectors and inspiring innovation. Ultimately, it seeks to educate, empower and connect to create tangible opportunities for music industry professionals of all kinds.

This philosophy and commitment shine through in a sweeping agenda of panels and talk - and these are the essential sessions not-to-miss.

PANEL: PopArabia: Guide to Sync Licensing in the Middle East | Thursday, Dec 4 

Speakers:

Spek (Founder & CEO, PopArabia & ESMAA)

Scott Cresto (Executive Vice President, Global Head Synchronisation & Marketing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.)

Yvette Ndobe (Synch Licensing Manager, PopArabia)

PANEL: Clubbing in KSA, The Evolution of an Emerging Scene | Thursday, Dec 4 

Speakers:

Ahmed El Ganzoury (CEO & Founder, GNK Group)

Nezar Kadhem (Co-founder, Soundscapes & Eat App)

Ayman Alzurayer (Curator & Head of Events, DesertSound)

Anoof Eshky (Project Manager, Xclusive Entertainment)

Nourah Alammary (Artist & Creative Director)

FISHBOWL: 25 Years of Exit Festival | Sat, Dec 7 

Speakers:

Miroslav Miletic (Executive Head of Booking, Exit Festival)

Ivan Milivojev (Co-founder, Exit Festival)

Dusan Kovacevic (Founder & CEO, Exit Festival Group)

Jennifer Cochrane (Senior Talent Booker & Programmer, Exit Festival)

PANEL: Rethinking Music Journalism: Voices, Challenges, and the Road Ahead | Friday, Dec 5 

Speakers: 

Cheb Rocky (Music Editor, Ma3azef)

Amina Kaabi (Digital Editor, GQ Middle East)

Danny Hajjar (Writer & Journalist)

Omar Ghoneim (Music Editor, Ma3azef)

PANEL: Women in Music: Celebrating Milestones & Identifying Gaps to Be Closed | Sat, Dec 7

SPEAKERS:

Neeta Tulsidas Ragoowansi (President, Music Managers Forum-US)

Priyanka Khimani (Founder, Women in Music India Foundation)

Nadia Khan (Founder, Women in CTRL)

Haya Alhejailan (Artist & Cultural Strategist, Ministry of Culture)

Andreea Magdalina (Coachella & Programming & Partnerships Director, Amsterdam Dance Event)

DJ Viva (Artist)

FISHBOWL: Event Management: Success Stories, Challenges, and Building Networks for the Future | Thursday, Dec 4 

Speakers: 

Bassel Enab (Managing Partner, Kord)

Jouman Barakat (Head of Operations & Touring, Scarab Records)

Yas Meen Selectress (Artist)

Ziad Fayed (Co-Director)

PANEL: Building A Sustainable Artist Career in Music | Friday, Dec 5 

Speakers: 

Anna George (Founder, Female Talent Agency)

Karima Damir (VP Artist Development and Repertoire Growth, Universal Music MENA)

Laura Wozniak (Head of Streaming, MDLBEAST Records)

Nouran Hassan (Head of Communication (MENAP), Spotify)

Liliana Abudalo (Head of Label and Artist Solutions, Believe)

PANEL: Man VS Machine: Balancing Creativity and AI in Music | Friday, Dec 5

Speakers:

Karl Fowlkes (Entertainment Lawyer & Founder, The Fowlkes Firm)

Portrait XO (Multimodal Artist & Independent Researcher)

Alina Solotarov (AI Ethicist, Fraunhofer Institute ISI)

Sophie Gossens (Parenter, Latham & Watkins - EU Copyrights)

PANEL: Respect & Protect Your Community; Safety on the Dancefloor | Friday, Dec 5 

Speakers: 

Zeyad Mohsen (Artist & Co-founder, Soundscapes Festival)

Lutz Leichsenring (Executive Board Member, Clubcommission Berlin & Co-founder VibeLab)

Silvana Kill (Director of Operations, the Night Time Industries Association & the UK Door Security Association)

Hessah Alsanea (Membership, Marketing & Partnerships, MDLBEAST)

Andreea Magdalina (Founder, shesaid.so & Co-founder IAMJT)

FIRESIDE CHAT: YOUTUBE MUSIC PRESENTS: Visual Storytelling With Zeyne | Thursday, Dec 4

Speakers:

Zeyne (Artist)

Sara Bazian (Strategic Partnership Manager, Label Development, YouTube)

KEYNOTE: The Saudi Music Commission: Past, Present & Future Direction | Thursday, Dec 4

Speakers:

Paul Pacifico (CEO, the Saudi Music Commission)

FIRESIDE CHAT: Emel Mathlouthi: My Word is Free | Sat, Dec 7 

Speakers:

Mayssa Karaa (Artist & Artistic Director, Berklee Abu Dhabi)

Emel Mathlouthi (Artist)

FISHBOWL: Navigating the New Wave: Challenges and Innovations in Music Distribution | Saturday, DEC 7

SPEAKERS:

Salam Kmeid (Head of Content Marketing, Anghami)

Liliana Abudalo (Head of Label and Artist Solutions, Believe)

Firas Abou Fakher (Composer & Musician)

Edwin Harb (Senior Label Manager, MDLBEAST)

PANEL: Building the Village Around the Artist | Saturday, Dec 7

SPEAKERS:

Frenchy Says Relax (Artist)

Dafencii (Artist)

Sarah El Miniawy (Artist & Founder, Simsara)

Hassan Abouelrouss (Artist)

Mayssa Karaa (Artist & Artistic Director, Berklee Abu Dhabi)

Heba Zaidan (Senior Creative Strategist, MDLBEAST)

PANEL: MDLBEAST: 5 Years of Building A Future Where Creatives Can Flourish | Saturday, Dec 7

SPEAKERS:

Nada Alhelabi (General Manager, The MDLBEAST Foundation)

Baloo (Chief Creative Officer, MDLBEAST)

Ramadan Alharatani (CEO, MDLBEAST)

Rayan AlRasheed (Director of Operations & Artist Booking, MDLBEAST)

Talal Albahiti (COO & Head of Music, MDLBEAST)

PANEL: The Global Impact of Afrobeats | Saturday, Dec 7

SPEAKERS:

Selina Chowdhury (Emerging Markets A&R & Strategy, Electric Feel Entertainment & Ventures)

Nazli Yirtar (Head of Marketing (Emerging Markets), Warner Music Group)

Joeboy (Artist)

Excel Joab (Senior Manager, A&R and Artist Development, AWAL & Co-Founder, Arktik Kold)

Laverne Thomas (Operations Lead, Warner Music Africa)