Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission announced today the launch of the kingdom’s first ever music strategy.
Built on five key pillars, including education; production; performance, delivery and distribution; advocacy; and licensing and intellectual property rights, the strategy is set to support the growth of the kingdom’s music sector with more than 60 initiatives.
The commission aims for the sector to equal and exceed the economic contribution of 1 percent of GDP (excluding oil revenues) common in developed markets, and will help create more than 65,000 jobs across the sector by 2030 through its strategy.
“The launch of the Music Strategy represents the beginning of an exciting new era for the Saudi music sector, and we are delighted to be able to share this with the world. The Music Commission has identified the roadmap and initiatives required to build a powerhouse music industry across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And we are implementing the plan through an exciting program of initiatives already underway, creating the pathways for talent to be identified and nurtured, strongly supported by a robust music ecosystem which will enable the sector to thrive,” said Mohammed Al Mulhem, CEO of the Music Commission.
The newly established infrastructure is set to include more than 130 recording studios and rehearsal facilities across the kingdom, including the world’s largest flagship recording studio in Riyadh.
With domestic, regional and international partnerships a key focus of the strategy, a new partnership with the Ministry of Education will see music education rolled out at every kindergarten and K-12 school in the kingdom.
In addition, a raft of new music institutes – including Music Hubs in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar – will cater to the demand for music education across the Kingdom. This demand is exemplified by the recent uptick in Saudis seeking to learn instruments, with almost 20 percent of 15–24 year olds now owning musical instruments.
Under the strategy, the commission seeks to support the development of an innovative and inclusive sector through initiatives such as the world’s first e-learning virtual academy, which will use augmented and virtual reality technology to expand the horizons of students across 50 music-related modules.
The commission is also working with the private sector to license and open 50 music education centers.
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