Ngl, the Arab music scene has been blowing up in the last 12 months with more and more Arab stars landing spots in the music charts, trending on Tiktok and receiving worldwide recognition.
So, naturally, the next step is to spotlight the music scene and soon the world’s premier music awards show, Billboard, is coming to the MENA region. It will be the first Arab edition of the awards show celebrating chart-topping Arab artists.
On December 11, 2024, at the iconic King Fahad Cultural Center 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. ​We can’t wait.
Who will walk away with awards? 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.​
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. ​
You can bet we are waiting to find out who will perform and how to ger tickets.
Click here to upgrade your summer playlist with these Arab artists’ drops.