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DUBAI: US comedian Andrew Schulz brought the house down during his Dubai debut at the Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday night, delivering a high-energy set that left the crowd roaring with laughter from start to finish.

Following a successful show in Abu Dhabi in 2024, the comedian returned to the UAE accompanied by the co-hosts of his hit podcast Flagrant.

Opening for Schulz were Mark Gagnon, Akaash Singh, and Emirati comedian Abz Ali.

As part of the Dubai Comedy Festival, Schulz performed a classic American-style standup routine infused with his trademark self-deprecating humor.

And, to the audience’s delight, provided plenty of region-specific jokes about life in the UAE.

Unlike his Abu Dhabi show, this set leaned more toward sharp, quick-fire standup and crowd interaction rather than an overarching narrative, which had characterized his previous Life Tour performances.

From poking fun at Dubai’s traffic to riffing on the city’s obsession with Emaar buildings, Schulz showcased an impressive grasp of local culture and humor.

Throughout the night, his quick wit and spontaneous comebacks during audience interactions had the crowd in stitches.

To close the show, Schulz invited the rest of the lineup back on stage for a lighthearted Q&A segment, where they offered tongue-in-cheek advice.

With laughter, tears, and plenty of surprises, Schulz’s Dubai debut was a memorable addition to his growing list of UAE performances.

The comedian is set to perform in Riyadh as a part of the comedy festival on Oct. 8.

RIYADH: Spotify has released its first Saudi “Loud & Clear report, highlighting the rise of the Kingdom’s music industry, where local artists are leveraging global discovery into sustainable careers.

According to the report, Saudi artists generated more than SR13 million ($3.5 million) in royalties on Spotify in 2024 — a 76 percent increase from the previous year and more than double the total in 2022. At the same time, Saudi artists were discovered by first-time listeners more than 220 million times. According to Spotify, more than 90 percent of royalties came from audiences outside the Kingdom.

“�������� is one of the most exciting music markets in the Middle East today. If you look back just a decade, much of the scene was underground. Fast-forward to now, and the story is very different: Artists are reaching audiences at scale, royalties are growing fast, and the ecosystem is buzzing with possibility,” said Akshat Harbola, managing director for Spotify MENAP.

He added that the momentum was “undeniable,” noting that ��������’s Music Commission projects the industry could become a half-billion-dollar market within the next decade. “To realize that vision, every stakeholder needs to come together, and the time to start that conversation is now,” he said.

The Loud & Clear event in Riyadh on Thursday was designed as a conversation-starter, bringing together artists, industry leaders and fans to examine how streaming revenues are shaping careers. Harbola described the milestone as proof that music is becoming a viable profession in the Kingdom. “We celebrated some powerful wins, more than SR13 million in royalties generated, with many Saudi artists now generating over SR100,000 last year. This is proof that music can become a sustainable career,” he said.

Spotify’s report also showed that Saudi music consumption on the platform has grown by nearly 200 percent since 2020, fueled by local pride and younger audiences. Harbola emphasized that the goal is not only growth but transparency: “By breaking down how royalties flow, how rights are protected, and how artists can truly earn from their work, we can build a more transparent and sustainable system from day one.”

What stood out most, he said, was the diversity of the Saudi music scene. “Of course, Tarab remains a powerful genre, but alongside it you now have electronic producers filling global arenas, and singer-songwriters blending Arabic and English in ways that feel fresh and original,” Harbola said, citing acoustic performances that showcased the mix of languages and styles now defining the Kingdom’s sound.

Spotify has already launched initiatives such as RADAR Arabia, EQUAL Arabia, and Fresh Finds Saudi to support emerging talent. Harbola underlined that discovery remains at the heart of the platform. “In 2024 alone, Spotify helped drive more than 220 million discoveries of Saudi artists worldwide,” he said.

Looking ahead, Spotify announced a new Saudi campaign, The GM of Vibes, celebrating the creativity and energy of the Kingdom’s listeners. “We’re incredibly focused on our mission to support artists and to educate music fans about streaming music legally. The more they stream, the more their favorite artists can sustain a living from their art,” Harbola said.

As ��������’s music ecosystem accelerates under Vision 2030, Spotify’s data-driven push for transparency signals a new era where artists are not only being heard but increasingly rewarded.