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Quartertones | Music from the Arab WorldAuthor: afikra
Quartertones is a music podcast which hosts current Arab musicians from different geographies who play contemporary and modern music, including pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic, classical, among other genres. The guests are invited to talk about their work and play their music whether live or recorded in three segments. The audience gets a chance to listen to work from across the region and genres that is defining the scene in the region, and understand the music that these musicians and musicologists perform or study. Language: en Genres: Arts, Music, Music Interviews, Performing Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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What is the Future of Saudi Music & the Arabic Music Industry? | COO of MDLBEAST
Episode 84
Tuesday, 30 December, 2025
We sit down with Ahmed Alammary (otherwise known as DJ Baloo), the Chief Creative Officer of MDLBeast and a leading music figure and thinker in the region. We discuss the origins of MDLBeast and its goals for transforming the music industry in Saudi Arabia and the broader region. MDLBeast was born from a brief for a three-day music festival in 2019. Since then, it has evolved into a multi-layered music brand with an ethos centered on amplifying music culture across various platforms, including events, venues, record labels, radio channels, and music conferences. Given that Saudi Arabia was previously considered a "music desert" with no industry, music education, rights, or dedicated venues, the organization's involvement is seen as having incubated so much value and accelerating the development of a music industry. The conversation also touches on the dramatic shift in how the international community views Saudi music, moving from initial backlash to a point where artists and management companies are now actively seeking collaboration. This change has fostered a significant regional conversation and is credited with fading stereotypes, with Arabs starting to look at each other differently. 0:00 When Restrictions Fuel Creativity: MDLBeast's Genesis3:50 The Chief Creative Officer’s Role in Shaping Vision6:03 Saudi Arabia as a "Music Desert" and the Lack of Infrastructure10:09 The Building Blocks of a Thriving Music Industry15:03 The Core Difference Between XP and Soundstorm18:42 Overcoming Domestic (and International) Backlash20:35 Creating a Regional "Musical Glue"22:50 The History of the Underground Saudi Music Scene27:37 The Economic and Professional Focus of the New Industry30:30 Artistry and Local Palettes: The Role of Record Labels33:25 Identifying a Unique "Saudi Sound"35:35 Beyond Electronic Music: Hip-Hop, Indie, and Heavy Metal37:45 The 10-Year Vision: Saudi As a Music Destination40:30 Culture Building Over Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)46:37 Navigating Censorship Through Creativity51:38 Potholes to Avoid: The Double-Edged Sword of Ambition Ahmed Alammary aka AlBaloo is the Label Head and DJ at Gabu Records and Chief Creative Officer of MDLBeast, and a leading music figures and thinkers in Saudi Arabia. Connect with Baloo 👉 https://instagram.com/a_baloo Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAhABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
