Music Biz Passport
Music Biz Passport
Our Music Biz Passport event series offers FREE opportunities for U.S. executives to connect with international trendsetters to learn what does and does not work in their local music economies, expose important cross-border collaborations that will make the global music business stronger, and network across country borders!
Making Culture Pop: The Global Breakthrough of Arabic Music
Tuesday, November 10th | 12 — 1 pm ET
*please note time change*
presented by EMPIRE
The 20th-century U.S. music scene was defined by shifting demographics and cultural integration, but today, a new global frontier is emerging. Arabic music is experiencing a massive surge in popularity, driven by social media stars like DJ HABIBEATS, Elyanna, Mishaal Tamer and DYSTINCT who reach tens of millions. Sold-out parties globally, alongside the launch of the first official MENA music chart, signal a major shift in the industry’s landscape. Decades of work by diaspora communities and the accessibility of platforms like Spotify have finally dismantled traditional gatekeeping. While niche genres like K-pop have proven that global stardom is possible, the Arab music industry is now at a critical turning point. To produce the next world-class pop star, artists must continue to navigate structural barriers while capitalizing on this unprecedented cultural momentum.
How Music Subtitles Are Connecting Artists with 8+ Billion Fans
Tuesday, December 8th | 2 — 3 pm ET
presented by LyricFind
Today, the music world is truly global, as song lyrics can be understood by over 8 billion fans, no matter where they live or what languages they speak. This is made possible through lyric translations and subtitles, which connect all audiences more closely to all songs. Using subtitles, all artists, songwriters, labels, publishers, managers, distributors, and more can now communicate in every language the meaning and power of their songs and lyrics on YouTube, Google Search, Deezer, Spotify, Apple, and other key platforms. This is possible thanks to AI tools coupled with human vetting, which has changed the music ecosystem and amplified the power of music to reach across borders. In this panel, experts in lyric translations and rights will explain how artists can embrace music subtitles to expand their audience by 2-10x, easily reaching many more people than ever. This is the most meaningful way to export music, beyond language barriers.