Latest news with #BillboardArabia
Campaign ME
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
SRMG Labs win Gold and Silver at Cannes Lions
SRMG Labs has won Gold and Silver Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025. The awards were given in the Audio & Radio category for The Second Release, a campaign developed by SRMG Labs for Billboard Arabia that honours the legacy of Saudi Arabia's first female musical icon, Etab. Fewer than 0.78 per cent of all entries receive a Gold Lion – underscoring the rarity of this achievement and positioning SRMG Labs among the world's creative elite. Jomana Alrashid, CEO of SRMG, said: 'This Gold at Cannes Lions is a monumental milestone for SRMG Labs and for the region's creative voice. In just two years, Labs has become one of Saudi Arabia's leading creative agencies. Earning such rare recognition speaks volumes about the caliber of our work, the talent behind it, and SRMG's commitment to reimagining the creative landscape globally.' The campaign used advanced AI technology to bring Etab's voice and image back to life, introducing her legacy to a new generation. Centered around a remastered version of her beloved track Ya Saudi, Ya Saudi, the campaign reintroduced Etab not only as a musical pioneer, but as a symbol of Saudi Arabia's cultural evolution and growing space for female artistic expression. From a stylised music video to urban fashion, outdoor creative, and digital amplification, the campaign blended heritage and innovation, sparking nationwide conversation. It was launched to coincide with Saudi National Day in 2024 and was also recognised with the Cultural Impact Award from the Saudi Ministry of Culture. Fadi Mroue, Chief Creative Officer at SRMG and Managing Director of SRMG Labs, added: 'With Etab, we weren't just telling a story – we were reframing the narrative. Bringing her legacy back to life using today's tools was about honoring the past, empowering the present, and inspiring the future. I'm proud of our team for delivering work that's bold, respectful, and culturally meaningful – and proud that one of the world's leading creative stages has recognised it.' The recognition arrives at a time when Saudi Arabia's creative and cultural industries are undergoing rapid transformation. The campaign tapped into this shift, blending innovation with authenticity to spark renewed national pride and bridge generational narratives through music. This dual win marks another creative milestone for SRMG Labs. Since its launch in 2022, SRMG Labs said it has consistently delivered impactful work that blends technology, storytelling, and cultural relevance. With accolades spanning Cannes Lions, Dubai Lynx, LIA, and national recognition from the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the agency continues to push creative boundaries while telling stories rooted in identity, purpose, and innovation. The campaign also aims to reflect Billboard Arabia's mission to revive and celebrate the region's musical heritage, spotlight underrepresented voices, and connect new generations with the cultural icons who shaped the sound of the Arab world.
Broadcast Pro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
SRMG Labs wins at Cannes Lions for AI-powered tribute to Saudi icon Etab
SRMG Labs has achieved major recognition at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, securing both Gold and Silver Lions in the Audio & Radio category for its campaign The Second Release. Created for Billboard Arabia, the campaign pays homage to Etab, Saudi Arabia's first female musical icon, by reviving her voice and image using advanced AI technologies. Fewer than 0.78% of all entries at Cannes Lions earn a Gold Lion, placing SRMG Labs among the world's top creative agencies. The campaign centred around a remastered version of Etab's patriotic anthem Ya Saudi, Ya Saudi, launching on Saudi National Day 2024. Blending cutting-edge tech with cultural storytelling, it reintroduced Etab not only as a musical legend but also as a symbol of Saudi Arabia's shifting landscape for women in the arts. Through a stylized music video, digital campaigns, urban fashion, and outdoor media, The Second Release sparked wide public engagement and earned the Cultural Impact Award from the Saudi Ministry of Culture. Jomana Alrashid, CEO of SRMG, said: 'This Gold at Cannes Lions is a monumental milestone not only for SRMG Labs but for the region's creative voice at such an important festival. In just two years, Labs has become one of the leading creative agencies in Saudi Arabia and the wider region. With only 0.78% of entries receiving a Gold Lion, this win speaks volumes about the caliber of our work and the talent driving it. It reflects SRMG's commitment to reimagining the creative landscape — pushing boundaries, celebrating local stories, and delivering work that resonates globally.' Fadi Mroue, Chief Creative Officer at SRMG and Managing Director of SRMG Labs, added: 'With Etab, we weren't just telling a story — we were reframing the narrative. Bringing her legacy back to life using today's tools was about honouring the past, empowering the present, and inspiring the future. I'm proud of our team for delivering work that's bold, respectful, and culturally meaningful — and proud that one of the world's leading creative stages has recognised it.' The recognition arrives at a time when Saudi Arabia's creative and cultural industries are undergoing rapid transformation. Once sidelined, music and the arts now sit at the heart of the Kingdom's evolving identity, driven by a new generation eager to celebrate its heritage while shaping its future. Etab's return to the spotlight speaks directly to this moment: a powerful reminder of the women who paved the way and the possibilities that now exist for those following in their footsteps. The campaign tapped into this shift, blending innovation with authenticity to spark renewed national pride and bridge generational narratives through music.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Marwan Moussa: The Egyptian Rapper Who Lost His Heart and Found His Voice
In a studio hangar just outside Cairo, weeks before the release of his new album The Man Who Lost His Heart, Marwan Moussa sits with a resolve that only grief teaches. The kind shaped by someone who's been to the depths of loss and carried back not just a song, but 23. The album wasn't built overnight, Marwan Moussa explains to Billboard Arabia in his exclusive May cover interview. It was carved out of grief and shaped with intention. Each track, he says, was sculpted from the turbulent, shifting emotions he experienced during the long and winding journey of healing after the heartbreak of losing his mother two years ago. The album, he says, was 'a kind of therapy.' Like writing a journal, sleeping on it, then reading it with fresh eyes to look at his life from a different perspective. More from Billboard Jessie J Reveals 'Early Breast Cancer' Diagnosis: 'Cancer Sucks in Any Form' Big Thief Announce New Album, 'Double Infinity' Neil Young Invites Donald Trump to Summer Tour 'If There Is Not Martial Law by Then' The Man Who Lost His Heart doesn't open with a bang; it opens like a dream taking shape. 'Try to remember' is the first line we hear, fighting its way through an ethereal sound design. Structured in five parts, the album mirrors the five stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance – but more than that, it charts the long, slow work of survival. Moussa doesn't just document his pain; he invites you into it, offering a guide and companionship with each track. 'It isn't a linear journey, of course,' he explains. 'You could be angry, then suddenly find yourself depressed, and then all the way back in the denial stage.' But the album isn't merely a chronicle of grief. It's a sonic deconstruction of Moussa's process. Blending trap-shaabi (a genre he helped popularize that combines trap beats with various textures found within Egypt's popular folk music), heavy synths, tender melodies and deeply personal sound bites – including audio lifted from childhood VHS tapes of him and his family – he crafts a layered, emotional landscape. The Man Who Lost His Heart isn't just a collection of songs. It's a reckoning. Take his track 'BOSAKBER,' which spirals through memory and misfire. His flow isn't clean; it's distorted and fractured like a freshly broken heart. In the accompanying video, directed by Youssef Haridy, Moussa appears alone beneath a wide, empty sky. He fights his own reflection. The imagery is both surreal and stark, but not hopeless. It's not the portrait of someone broken – it's the portrait of an artist in the whirlwind of putting themselves back together, even if the pieces no longer fit the way they once did. 'We wanted to create a surreal imagery that feels deeply rooted in oriental aesthetics; something distinct,' Moussa says. Moussa is not new to transformation. Over the last several years, he's become one of the most influential voices in Arabic hip-hop – not only as a rapper, but as the producer behind dozens of hits, including 'Brazil,' and more recently 'Kebda' for longtime collaborator Afroto. He's also been a constant on Billboard Arabia's Artist 100 chart for over 55 consecutive weeks. Moussa first set foot on Egypt's hip-hop scene in 2016, releasing his early tracks on SoundCloud. The following year, his collaborations with Abyusif on 'La2 Mafeesh' (No, There Isn't) and 'Zaghzaghto' (Tickling) brought him into the spotlight, and his skills as both rapper and producer began to further solidify. In 2018, he released his first music video for 'Kiki,' which marked his production breakthrough. Then came 'Fr3on' (Pharaoh) in 2019, with its unpredictable rhymes and sharp wordplay over a solid beat and advanced production techniques. After experimenting with several genres, Moussa's 2019 track 'El Bosla Da3et' (The Compass Is Lost) marked a turning point not only for his career, but for Egyptian trap as a whole. It was one of the first tracks to experiment with fusing shaabi and trap, paving the way for the rise of trap-shaabi, as it became known subsequently. His 2021 album Florida cemented his reputation as an innovator, blending regional rhythms with experimental production in a way few dared to. From songs like 'Tesla' and 'Sheraton' to shaping his own catalog to producing for Egypt and North Africa's most respected MCs, Moussa has always known how to bend sound to feeling. But The Man Who Lost His Heart, released in full on May 5, is different. If Florida was Moussa pushing his craft's limits, this album is what remains when all else falls away – just music, message and the strength found in the breaking. That strength is amplified by a slate of carefully chosen collaborators. The album features standout moments with producer El Waili on 'Yamma' and Afroto, as well as verses from Lege-Cy on 'Klameny Belel.' But it's Donia Wael's contribution that Moussa calls essential to the record's emotional core. 'I want Donia Wael's voice on the album to be interpreted by each listener in his or her own way—as a girlfriend, friend or therapist,' he says. 'The reason the album came out this way,' says Moussa, 'is that I thought if I give through the five stages of grief, maybe it helps you get through what you're dealing with or get past a tough time in your life or your current period of depression.' In that way, The Man Who Lost His Heart is more than an act of expression. It's an offering. A hand on your shoulder there to remind you that no stage of sadness lasts forever, even when it feels like it might. For Moussa, producing an album this emotional, meant risking everything: the cool detachment of a hardened rapper. What he's delivered instead is something harder, and far more lasting. A document of heartbreak. And perhaps, in doing so, he has found his heart again, and his voice. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Arab News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
TikTok and SRMG join forces to back local talent, drive MENA media innovation
RIYADH: Leading media group SRMG has announced a strategic partnership with TikTok to empower the next generation of content creators in Saudi Arabia and across the MENA region, while also driving commercial growth through a series of innovative initiatives. The partnership will leverage TikTok's expertise in amplifying content reach, unlocking monetization opportunities, and fostering deeper connections with the region's digitally native audience. It also aims to expand TikTok's footprint through integration into SRMG's flagship events and diverse media platforms, particularly in the fields of entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. A key initiative under the partnership was the launch of #TikTokAcademy, a local program tailored for Saudi Arabia and developed in conjunction with SRMG Academy. This initiative invites aspiring digital storytellers to submit original content across lifestyle, fashion, film and entertainment, news, and sports. Selected creators will gain exclusive training across SRMG's media brands, gaining firsthand experience alongside editors, journalists, and producers. As part of the partnership, SRMG's cultural and entertainment events such as the Billboard Arabia Music Awards and Hia Hub, will provide a prominent platform to spotlight TikTok creators and raise their profile. SRMG will also activate its extensive media network, including, Hia Magazine, Sayidaty, Arriyadiyah, and Billboard Arabia to amplify content and showcase creators through editorial and digital platforms. This aligns with broader industry momentum, as the media sector added SAR 14.5 billion ($3.86 billion) to the GDP in 2023, with ambitions to more than triple that by 2030 and generate 67,000 jobs by 2024. The entertainment sector is booming as well, bringing in over SAR 1 billion in revenue and engaging more than 75 million people in the past five years. Social media is a major driving force behind this surge, with Saudi Arabia ranked among the top countries for usage, fuelling a new era of content creation, digital storytelling, and influencer-led innovation. Commenting on the partnership, Bassil Al Mouallimi Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer at SRMG, said: 'We believe in the power of community and in the influential role the new generation plays in shaping the future of media in our region.' He noted that 'the region's creative economy is witnessing remarkable and rapid growth, particularly across the media, entertainment, and social platform sectors.' Al Mouallimi added: 'Our strategic partnership with TikTok marks a significant step in solidifying our presence at the heart of this creative movement. We are working to connect talented creators with global platforms and foster an environment that empowers them to thrive and make a meaningful impact.' He emphasized that 'this goes beyond simply producing trend-driven content — it's about building sustainable career paths, amplifying authentic voices, and driving growth in the content economy.' Kinda Ibrahim, TikTok's General Manager of Content Operations in MEA, South and Central Asia said 'At TikTok, we are committed to empowering a new generation of storytellers by giving them the tools, platform, and global stage to express themselves and shape culture. Saudi Arabia is home to an incredibly engaged and creative community. Through this partnership with SRMG, we are doubling down on our efforts to nurture local talent, fuel the region's creative economy, and help creators thrive, not just in the Kingdom, but across the world.' This strategic partnership builds on the momentum of earlier joint initiatives, including the launch of the Billboard Arabia TikTok Music Charts, a first-of-its-kind platform spotlighting the most streamed and culturally influential songs in the Arab world. It also follows the rollout of SRMG Academy's first technology journalism course, powered by TikTok, designed to train the next wave of Saudi storytellers in navigating and reporting on the fast-evolving tech landscape.
Cosmopolitan ME
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan ME
We're screaming! Elyanna joins Abu Dhabi F1 line-up
If you thought Elyanna's moment with Coldplay was iconic… you're absolutely right. After stealing the spotlight during their Abu Dhabi show – vocals on point, visuals unforgettable she didn't just perform, she made history. And now, she's coming back. But this time? It's all her. She's taking the spotlight solo at one of the biggest stages of the year: the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.. And yes, the vibes will be immaculate. It's a full-circle moment for the Palestinian-Chilean singer, who's been carving her own path from day one. Elyanna's not your typical pop artist. At just 22, she was the first artist to perform a full set in Arabic at Coachella, blending her unique fusion of Arabic lyrics, Latin rhythms, and dreamy pop energy has carved out a space in global music that feels fresh and deeply rooted at the same time. Whether it's Ghareeb Alay to the emotional pull of her unreleased tracks, she brings depth, soul, and serious stage presence – and F1 is about to get all of it.. This isn't just another gig – it's a full-on glow-up. She went from sharing the stage with Coldplay to now owning one of the biggest weekends in the region. Elyanna is making it clear: she's not the future of Arabic pop, she's the now. So if you're heading to F1, don't just go for the race. Go for Elyanna. She's bringing the vocals, the visuals, and the energy. And something tells us this is just the beginning. Did you know – Elyanna landed a spot on Billboard Arabia's Top 5 female artists?
