DJ Mag Middle East, the regional arm of the prestigious British electronic music publication DJ Mag, will be hosting the inaugural edition of the DJ Mag Middle East Conference in Abu Dhabi on 3-4 March 2020. The conference will take place over two days, as part of the highly anticipated Abu Dhabi Music Week and will be followed by the Week’s flagship event, Ultra Abu Dhabi on 5-6 March, 2020.
The conference, which will be hosted at W Hotel, Yas Island, will explore the theme “the Electronic Music Scene in the Middle East” and is set to bring together over 20 industry experts and artists to present a series of talks, workshops and Q&A’s that will give conference attendees invaluable insight into the region’s rapidly growing EDM industry.
The first phase lineup of confirmed speakers and talent for DJ Mag middle East include internationally renowned names and domain experts who have previously spoken at the world’s largest festival and business conference for electronic music, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). Key names comprise of label representatives from Armada Music, the company produced several global hits from acclaimed artists Afrojack and Armin Van Buuren, STMPD, the label behind superstar DJ Martin Garrix’s music, artist bookers from WME Agency and David Lewis Productions, artist management experts, in addition to DJ Mag’s Top Club representatives such as GetReal Management and Zouk and international DJs such as Nic Fanciulli and Nicky Romero.
Positioned as a gateway between the music industry in the Middle East and the world, the conference aims to elevate young aspiring musicians, promoters and industry players in the region by connecting them to industry counterparts around the world.
The conference will consist of eight industry panels that will feature guests and speakers from all corners of the dance music arena, who will share their valuable knowledge and the experience with the attendees. Representatives from Dance FM, Spotify MENA, and Anghami will participate in a panel discussion about the Middle East dance music eco-system alongside Saudi DJ and producer Omar Basaad.
The conference will also feature two masterclass sessions by star DJ Nicky Romero and representatives from STMPD Records, in addition to four tech sessions hosted by global music production experts which have been curated for the region’s aspiring producers. The workshop and tech sessions will teach the basics of musical production and sound design and will introduce the latest technologies and equipment used in music mixing and production.
International record labels Protocol, STMPD RCRDS, and Monstercat will take part in four “Demo Drop Sessions”, where local producers and artists will get the opportunity to present their productions and receive feedback from expert professionals.
The conference will culminate in a networking sessionat the end of each day where all participants come together to share knowledge and build relationships within the industry.
The complete festival and conference programme is available at www.djmagmeconference.com
Ticket prices range from AED270 for a single day pass to AED540 for a full conference pass, with a variety of packages and options on offer.
Phase 1 Confirmed Speakers and Artists
Artist Management & Booking Agencies
Bas Jensen (Getreal Management)
David Gordoni (United Talent Agency)
Erik Leenders (David Lewis Productions)
Remko De Jong (Moonjelly Agency)
Music Labels
Cindy Gu (Spinnin Records)
Jordan Te Rehorst (Armada Records)
Jorik Van Der Pol (Protocol Records)
Steven Hiemstra (STMPD Records)
Clubs & Festival Representatives
U Lee (Boothaus)
Wayne Lee (Zouk)
Artists
Nic Fanciulli (DJ Magazine Alternative Top 100 – #76)
Nicky Romero (Protocol Recordings, DJ Magazine Top 100 – #37)
Regional Representatives
Dean Curtis (DanceFM 97.8FM)
Mark Shakedown (Anghami)
Omar Basaad
Olly Wood (Hollaphonic)
More speakers will be announced soon.
