RIYADH: Riyadh Music Week festivities continue in the capital as the fifth annual Music Cities Awards were held in the Middle East for the first time on Dec. 8 at Mayadeen Village.
A number of initiatives and foundations from across the globe took home wins for their work in creating transformations across communities through music.
Hosted by Saudi actor Hakeem Jumuah, the night kicked off with opening remarks by CEO of the Music Commission Paul Pacifico and CEO of Sound Diplomacy Music Events and Education, Luke Jones.
Jones told Arab News: “The Music Cities awards is the world’s leading (platform), and I think recognition of people doing fantastic and important policy work in the development of Music City, strategies, night time economy, and everything else that is needed to make music, entertainment and culture work in an economically viable and sustainable way around the world.
“So in Riyadh, that’s exactly what we are trying to build. It’s a real privilege and a pleasure for us to host this important award ceremony as we build our city with these important tenets in mind.”
With over 300 applications from 19 countries across six continents, this year’s competition highlights the vital role that music plays in shaping the cultural, economic, and social fabric of cities.
To the nominees and applicants this year, he said: “Your innovative projects and unwavering commitment to using music for the greater good are an inspiration to us all.
“It enriches communities, fosters creativity, and reminds us of music’s profound ability to connect. We encourage all of you to continue applying for the awards. It’s not just a competition, it is a growing database of inspiration and celebration of what is possible when using becomes a tool for transformation.”
The selection process was led by a high level global jury of 10 experts who work at the forefront of music and city development, including Helen Glengarry, music industry lead of the City of Gold Coast, Australia; Khadija El-Bennaoui, head of performing arts at the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi; Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell, GRAMMY Award-winning engineer, producer, composer, and owner of Royal Studios; and Nada Alhelabi, the general manager of MDLBEAST Foundation in .
Brazil’s music scene had a successful night as it took home two awards. The city of Salvador, which was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Music due to its rich Afro-Brazilian cultural influences, won Best Global Music City, while The Brazilian Symphony Orchestra Foundation took the category for best initiative to support music education and career development.
Australian entities also took home big wins. Queensland Music Festival was named the Best Music Tourism Initiative for its flagship Queensland Music Trails, while Music Victoria, a prominent organization known for its advocacy, research, and professional development within the music industry, won Best Organization Or Individual Supporting Music In The City.
Best Initiative to Support Diversity and Inclusion in Music went to the Miami Music Project, Inc., while Central Florida Community Arts won Best Initiative Using Music to Improve Health and Wellbeing.
The French Bye Bye Plastic Foundation, a women-led grassroots nonprofit focused on eliminating single-use plastics in the music industry, won Best Initiative Using Music to Support Environmental Sustainability; The Best Initiative Using Music for Economic, Social or Community Development went to the Viña del Mar International Song Festival; and Best Night-Time Economy Initiative was won by Bristol Nights, a partnership project initiated by Bristol City Council to support the city’s nightlife and those working from 6 pm to 6 a.m.
Located in Toronto and Hamilton, Canada, Main Stage Rehearsal Studios won the title for Best Use of Music in Real Estate or City Planning, while the Best Digital Innovation to Support Musicians or Music in Cities went to Opulous, which has developed products that transform how users engage with the music industry.
The award show started the two-day Music Cities Convention, held Dec. 9-10, including a number of panels and workshops dedicated to discussing what it takes to create a solid foundation for a thriving music industry.
The festivities were organized by Music Cities Events, which is part of sound diplomacy events and education.
“This event is a rare opportunity for policies to be put on stages, alongside events like Soundstorm festival and XP, to give policy its rightful focus as the underpinning of everything else that we need to happen to have creative careers and successful environments,” said Pacifico.
