WIN Deepens Regional Ties at Riyadh Music Week

WIN will return to Riyadh Music Week in December 2025 as part of its BRIDGE project, an international initiative designed to strengthen the position of independent music companies in the digital ecosystem through research, resources, and collaboration. WIN’s participation in the event reflects the organization’s commitment to supporting the growth of the independent music sector in West Asia and North Africa.

Representatives from the WIN network will include CEO Noemí Planas, board member Marty Ro (LIAK, South Korea), Engin Akinci (BMYD, Turkey), and Nina Radojewski (AIM, UK). They will attend XP Music Futures conference on December 4-6, Takyah Cultural Gathering on December 7, Billboard Arabia Power Players on December 8, Music Makers Summit on December 9-10 and enjoy the multiple artists showcases and concerts at Fringe and Sandstorm festival from December 7-13.

Planas will also speak on the Music Makers Summit’s panel “Defining Saudi Pathways to Music Export Success” on December 9. The session will explore routes for Saudi artists and music companies to build sustainable global reach.

This trip builds on priorities identified at the first meeting of independent music companies and professionals from the WANA region, organized online by WIN in October. Participants from Algeria, Bahrain, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates agreed on the need for education and cross-border collaboration to address common challenges. In-person activities during Riyadh Music Week will promote knowledge sharing and connections between different territories.

We look forward to deepening our knowledge of the WANA region and continuing to build connections in these markets. The activities in Riyadh are an important step toward strengthening the local independent ecosystem and integrating it into global value chains.
Noemí Planas, WIN CEO

BRIDGE is a project developed by WIN to address the digital gap across markets. The BRIDGE WANA activities in Riyadh are organized in collaboration with the Saudi Arabia Music Commission and supported by Merlin.