Life in the great cities of the Middle East is lived out to a never-ending soundtrack of music in a dazzling variety of genres, from traditional folk to rock, jazz, and the ultra-contemporary sounds of Arabic rap, hip-hop, and house.
But while music may be the soul of the Middle East, it is not easy for local musicians to make a name for themselves, build a following, and earn a living. The team behind Xchange, a series of music workshops in some of the region’s largest cities, is out to change all that.
In stylish creative spaces in the busiest cities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Xchange is bringing together musicians, producers, and promoters to share experiences, swap ideas for the future, and have a great night out in the process.
The workshop series is the latest offering from the same group of creatives who organise the XP Music Futures conference.
“In order to foster sustainable growth in our music scene we need to bring people together.”
Shermine Sawalha, Founder, Malahi Entertainment
Challenges to local music makers abound in the region. Performance rights are problematic. In some places, government policies and bureaucracy can restrict creativity. Licensing can be difficult and small venues close down regularly, making it hard for independent musicians to grow live audiences.
To overcome these difficulties, the music industry is innovating to grow. No venue? No problem—the MENA music scene is alive with pop-up parties, festivals, independent record labels, and digital platforms.
“We recognize the challenges faced by Middle Eastern artists, promoters, and event organizers. Every hurdle inspires us to build an unshakable foundation for the music scene to not only survive but thrive. Together, we are building resilience, unity, and passion,” says Yasmine Rasool, XP head of programming.
At an Xchange workshop in the Jordanian capital of Amman, top producer and creative director Shermine Sawalha said that meetups and collabs pointed to a new way forward for the local ecosystem.
“A lot of the time people are working in silos. That’s why at Xchange we’ve brought together a label manager, a venue owner, and a community radio founder to close the gaps and find opportunities for growth.”
In Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, speakers said that to become truly vibrant centres of culture, their cities had to invest in growing authentic, grassroots communities of independent musicians and creatives.
Whatever the host city, each Xchange workshop wraps up to the inspiring sounds of local performers, spotlighting the incredible musical creativity and diversity of this region. The mood is one of celebration and of hope—hope for a future in which the passion and talent of Middle Eastern musicians are valued higher than ever before 
Published as branded content in WIRED UK magazine.
