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- The world’s premier music awards show is coming to the MENA region as the first Arab edition of its iconic awards show celebrating chart-topping Arab artists and their achievements
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Billboard Arabia is excited to announce the first edition of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards (BBAMAs). Taking place December 11, 2024, at the iconic KAFD in Riyadh, the awards show is part of the first-ever Riyadh Music Week, an initiative bringing together the global music community for a series of music festivals and events.
Billboard Arabia has become the ultimate destination for discovering Arab artists, with the awards show celebrating a year of music milestones and achievements, including the launch of its flagship charts and other major initiatives. The BBAMAs will honor trailblazers and rising stars with awards across a wide range of categories, including Top Artist, Female Artist, Male Artist, along with the year's hottest songs and much more.
Unlike other music award shows, BBAMA winners will be selected based on their ranking on Billboard Arabia’s flagship Charts, including the Hot 100 and Artist 100, as well as the newly launched dialect charts – Khaleeji, Egyptian, Levantine and Magharebi – and genre-specific charts – Arabic Hip-Hop, Arabic Indie, Shelat and Mahraganat. Billboard Arabia’s Charts follow the well-established parameters set by the Billboard brand over the last eight decades.
In addition to recognizing the top artists and music of the year, the BBAMAs will showcase Saudi Arabia and the region’s diverse talent through live performances, surprise collaborations and unforgettable moments featuring both established and emerging artists. It will also include performances from some of the biggest international artists.
Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO of SRMG, commented on the event: “In just one year, Billboard Arabia has become the fastest-growing music platform that truly reflects the preferences of millions of music fans and followers across the globe.” Alrashid further emphasized the importance of celebrating the region's diverse musical and artistic culture through global charts, dialect charts, and now the launch of the biggest Arabic music awards show, live in Riyadh”
Alrashid added: “Through the support of the Saudi Music Commission, part of the Ministry of Culture, and SRMG’s strategic partnership with Billboard, this significantly strengthens our ability to spotlight Arab artists to bring their work to global audiences and grow the region's vibrant music industry.”
Rami M. Zeidan, Managing Director of Billboard Arabia, said: “I am proud to announce the first edition of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards. As one of the fastest growing music hubs, Riyadh is the perfect location to celebrate the achievements of Arab artists around the world. Audiences will experience the diversity of Arab music firsthand through live performances. They will see their favorite artists like never before. This is what BBAMAs are all about: ensuring that Arab artists, their music and their stories receive the well-deserved recognition both regionally and globally.”
Mike Van, President of Billboard, stated: “We are proud to bring the Billboard Music Awards to Riyadh. The show remains the preeminent music event worldwide. The BBMAs celebrate and recognize musical talent and chart achievements and we’re thrilled to extend this legacy and vision to the Mena region, highlighting the musical excellence of Arab artists. This show will not only celebrate artists' commercial success, but also highlight their real impact on the music industry. The focus is on spotlighting artists and the evolving music landscape. Winning at the Billboard Music Awards is not just about one night; it represents an important moment elevating artists toward sustained success in their careers. This year, with the launch of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards, we are applying the same metric-based methodology to showcase Arab artists who have resonated most with music fans worldwide.”
Billboard Arabia was launched in June 2023 to spotlight Arab artists and their stories on a global stage. Since then, it has introduced several iconic Billboard franchises to the MENA region, including Billboard Arabia News, Women in Music and Charts. These initiatives have established the necessary infrastructure to help both established and new artists reach wider audiences. Billboard Arabia has also developed several unique IPs that further highlight the Arab voices, including its exclusive studio session series, Jalsat Billboard Arabia, and its groundbreaking initiative, Sounds of the Land.
Performances and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. For more updates and news, please visit billboardarabia.com.
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About SRMG:
SRMG has been transforming the MENA industry since 1972 and is the region’s largest integrated media group with over 30 leading titles. Across TV, digital, print and film, SRMG delivers top tier content in seven languages across four continents. With an ever-evolving consumer landscape, SRMG has launched seven business verticals. SRMG has enhanced its portfolio by developing significant partnerships with major international media brands such as Bloomberg Media, Warner Bros. Discovery, The Independent, Billboard, Penske Media Corporation and Shueisha. Through its network, SRMG brings the very best global content, high-quality production expertise, and premium entertainment to local audiences.
For more information about SRMG, please visit: www.srmg.com.
PR Contact
SRMG
Yazan Jamous, Yazan.jamous@srmg.com
About Billboard:
Billboard is the ultimate barometer of success in music. Through its iconic charts, breaking news, thought leadership, multi-platform storytelling and world class events, Billboard tracks the world’s top musicians and the business that powers them. Since its origin in 1894, music leaders and fans across the world look to Billboard as the most trusted source for music information, spanning 15 countries and published in 10 languages. The prestigious Billboard Music Awards are the only premium awards ceremony that recognize musicians for their undeniable achievements on the Billboard charts, using pure data to determine the winners, rather than relying on opaque committees or undisclosed voters to select the honorees giving fans maximum impact at each year's ceremony, as Billboard's chart data measures fans' engagement with their favorite music. Billboard’s other premium experiences range from the Billboard Power 100 to Billboard Women in Music, Billboard Latin Music Week, and Billboard Live, which connects the most impactful artists and industry leaders with fans from all cultures and corners of the globe.
PR Contacts:
Penske Media Corporation
Lydia Baskharoon, lbaskharoon@pmc.com
Brooke Jaffe, bjaffe@pmc.com
About Billboard Arabia:
Billboard Arabia, a pioneering platform at the intersection of culture and music, takes center stage as it celebrates the extraordinary artistry and diversity of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Launched as a partnership between SRMG, the largest integrated media group from the MENA region, and Billboard, the world’s most influential music media brand, its mission is to redefine the global music landscape. Billboard Arabia is a testament to the collaboration of expertise and resources, driven by a commitment to provide a platform that spotlights and empowers Arabic artists on the global stage.
Billboard Arabia has introduced several iconic Billboard franchises to the MENA market, including Charts, Women in Music, and much more. Beyond its flagship Charts, Billboard Arabia is the ultimate destination for audiences to engage with Arabic music, bringing the latest releases, insightful reviews and exclusive interviews, special coverage of events, original photography and video content in one centralized location.
For more information, please visit: https://billboardarabia.com.