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On September 10, 2024, Billboard Arabia announced the inaugural edition of its music awards, set to take place on December 11 at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh. This event, held during Riyadh Music Week, is part of a collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Music Commission. The awards aim to celebrate Arab musical achievements, using data from the Billboard platform to determine the winners, offering a fresh perspective on regional music success.
A New Stage for Arab Talent
The awards ceremony forms part of the Saudi Music Commission’s initiatives to bring together global music experts and professionals in one of the world’s fastest-growing music event hubs. Categories will include awards for Best Artist, Best Female Artist, and Best Songs of the Year, among others. Billboard Arabia's lists, which include "Billboard Arabia Hot 100" and "Top 100 Artists," have recently expanded to cover diverse music styles from the Gulf, Egypt, the Levant, and North Africa. The platform also introduced lists for "hip-hop," "Arab indie," and "sheela" songs, further highlighting the variety within Arab music.
These charts follow the global Billboard standards, developed over eight decades, and provide an accurate reflection of Arab listeners' preferences.
Celebrating Arab and Global Collaborations
In addition to recognizing top regional talent, the Billboard Arabia Awards will showcase collaborations between Arab and international artists. Exclusive performances featuring some of the biggest names in the industry are expected, with the event marking a milestone for Arab artists stepping onto the global stage.
Jumana Al-Rashed, CEO of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), emphasized the importance of Billboard Arabia in elevating Arab musical arts. She noted that Billboard’s data-driven approach reflects true listener preferences, providing an objective measure of success in contrast to traditional opinion-based awards.
Expanding Arab Music's Global Reach
Al-Rashed also discussed how Billboard Arabia fits into SRMG’s broader strategy of bringing Arab music to the world. She highlighted the group’s efforts to adapt Billboard’s international standards to regional needs, creating charts for the Gulf, Egypt, the Levant, and North Africa. These efforts have turned Billboard Arabia into the fastest-growing platform in the Arab world.
Rami Zidane, Director of Billboard Arabia, further explained that the platform bridges the gap between Arabic and international music, celebrating the diversity of the region’s musical output. With over 10 million users across its platforms, Billboard Arabia has become a powerful tool for discovering new music and following the latest trends.
A Growing Platform for Arab Artists
The upcoming awards ceremony will honor 40 prominent figures in the music industry, distributing over 50 awards to the top male and female artists, producers, and other contributors. The winners will be selected based on weekly charts compiled throughout the year, ensuring that the awards reflect consistent performance across various categories and dialects.
Rakan Flemban, Executive Editor of Billboard Arabia, noted that the awards are part of a series of events to be held in Riyadh, with more details to be revealed in the coming months.
SRMG’s Vision for Growth
SRMG, which launched its growth strategy three years ago, continues to expand its influence in the Arab media landscape. Al-Rashed emphasized that the group has prioritized delivering high-quality, exclusive content to its audience. Among the group’s recent successes is the development of Asharq Al-Awsat’s digital platforms, which have seen a 63% growth since their relaunch in 2023.
SRMG’s ventures include launching Asharq Bloomberg, now the largest business and finance platform in the Arab world, and investing in Thmanya, the leading Arab podcast platform. The group’s expansion into fashion with "Hia" magazine and the HIA HUB conference, the largest fashion event in the Arab world, further demonstrates its commitment to diversifying its content offerings.
In addition to media, SRMG has also focused on advertising and communications, with new initiatives such as SRMG Think for strategy, SRMG Labs for creative services, and SRMG X for events. These ventures complement SRMG Studios and SRMG Media Solutions, establishing the group as a leader in digital advertising. The newly formed "Super Agency" offers a comprehensive approach to media services, from planning to execution and impact analysis.
With Billboard Arabia leading the way, SRMG is set to continue driving the growth of Arab music and media on a global scale. The December awards ceremony in Riyadh is poised to be a landmark event, celebrating the vibrant, diverse talent that defines the modern Arab music scene.
