IMS Dubai day 1: the organizers said:” After an introduction from the IMS team and co-hosts Pete Tong and Rawan Alzaid, Billboard Arabia Managing Editor Maha ElNabawi set the tone with a moving keynote address. Maha not only flagged up some of the key individuals, collectives and brands driving the scene in the region but also the unexpectedly rich history of electronic music here – and its power of the dancefloor to connect us ever more closely.
This theme continued as a stacked panel including Live Nation’s James Craven and MDLBEAST’s Badder Assery and more explored how to navigate the scene in the region, its exponential growth and evolution In just the past few years, and the unique challenges. It was good to be reminded that MENA is not a monoculture, with every country on its own unique path.
A pan-continental line-up including Pete Tong, He.She.They’s Sophia Kearney, Pure Ibiza Dubai’s Theo Makris and Tete a Tete’s Celina Aoun next explored the deepening connections between Dubai and Ibiza, why they will never be quite the same – and why that’s a good thing.
In the Web3/Finance zone, the focus today was mainly on Web3, and how after the hype of a few years ago, the mission now is to concentrate on how the technology can benefit the culture and the user – rather than letting the tech lead the culture. It was great to get an artist’s perspective, as charismatic French polymath Agoria, who started by hugging everyone in the room – explained how blockchain helped him work more closely and quickly with the many global collaborators on his new album.
We heard from experts in the intersection of web3 and gaming, including Melissa Henderson of the Moonbeam foundation, and how music can be key to making that technology ever more accessible. Kor Protocol’s Inder Phull introduced the finalists for the groundbreaking IMS Accelerator, powered by Beatport and Polkadot to showcase – and give opportunities and funding to – the most exciting new music start-ups.
Closing the sessions for the day, Stryv and his manager Nicholas Parasram, in their keynote interview with Pete Tong grappled with the questions that faces a producer after a mega-hit – what next?
As the Summit program wrapped we headed down to Farrago for an al fresco networking event / party hosted by Dubai-based underground collective Duck Soup. The night continues on for many of us at Soho Garden, for the Beatport Presents Collektive at Soho Garden’s Playroom with an extraordinary all female DJ line-up featuring Cosmicat, Yas Meen Selectress, Parvané and Bazzzuk, and Beatport Presents The Garden, where artist-of-the-moment Stryv headlines proceedings. IMS Dubai delegates get full access to the summit AND the full night time program, naturally.”
