Saudi creative and media industry on trajectory of continued expansion, says GroupM MENA boss

Saudi creative and media industry on trajectory of continued expansion, says GroupM MENA boss
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Updated 09 August 2024
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Saudi creative and media industry on trajectory of continued expansion, says GroupM MENA boss

Saudi creative and media industry on trajectory of continued expansion, says GroupM MENA boss
  • CEO Amer El-Hajj tells Arab News the media-investment business aims to ‘shape the next era of media, where advertising works better for people’
  • In support of this, the company has set new ‘benchmarks for client satisfaction, talent cultivation and industry influence’ and works hard to ‘stay ahead of industry trends,’ he adds

DUBAI: Multinational advertising network WPP’s media-investment business, GroupM MENA, aspires to “shape the next era of media, where advertising works better for people,” said Amer El-Hajj, who became its CEO in September last year.

“This has been our ‘North Star’ focus,” he told Arab News. In support of this objective, the company has set new “benchmarks for client satisfaction, talent cultivation and industry influence” and is “actively shaping our proposition, best practices and strategies to stay ahead of industry trends,” he added.

GroupM said it won 10 new clients in the first six months of this year, already marking 2024 as its most successful year yet in the region, with 40 percent growth in billings compared with 2022. The businesses it has added to its books include L’Oreal Middle East, Al-Fardan Jewelry, Americana Foods, Diriyah Gate Development Authority, telecoms company du, and snacks company Mondelez.

It attributed the successes to an organizational transformation, including a new business-development team, a restructured buying, finance and operations department, and a focus on the hiring of new talent while retaining and developing existing talent.

Many of the new hires are at the group level, the company said, including regional managing director of customer experience, data and technology; e-commerce director; head of buying; and head of marketing and communications.

In common with other industries, the media sector is becoming more reliant on the latest developments in technology. For example, the media-buying process is becoming increasingly automated thanks to improvements in artificial intelligence, which can use algorithms to buy advertising slots in real time, targeting different audiences on multiple platforms and even serving up differing advertising messages depending on factors such as the time of day or type of audience.

A 2023 PwC report found that 67 percent of leaders in the technology, media and telecoms sector believed new technologies such as generative AI threaten current business models. However, El-Hajj said GenAI facilitates real-time content creation that can be adapted and tailored to the individual preferences of target audiences, which in turn improves the automation and the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

Within organizations, he added, it can serve as an important tool in efforts to streamline operational processes, including repetitive tasks, leading to greater efficiency and more cost-effective outcomes.

Still, he warned, businesses must not rely solely on AI without any human input and adequate quality controls.

“AI may lack the understanding of our culture and habits that is critical for nuanced advertising,” El-Hajj said. “Moreover, navigating regulatory complexities and addressing data-privacy issues are crucial considerations.”

The continuing evolution of technology means that businesses continually need to reskill their talent. A recent World Economic Forum report, titled “The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs,” found that 58 percent of employees believe their job skills will change significantly over the next five years as a result of AI and big data. Moreover, 92 percent of technology roles are expected to evolve in response to advancements in AI, it said.

GroupM defines its main objective as “creating value not only for our clients but also for the communities in which we operate.” To this end, it is committed to the development of local talent in Saudi Arabia, El-Hajj said, and more than 45 percent of its employees are Saudi.

It is also launching a university and academy initiative to help attract, recruit, train and educate the next generation of talent, to help fuel the company’s growth and increase its market share in the Kingdom, he added.

These initiatives come during a time of wider transformation and growth in Saudi society, which he said is creating promising opportunities for advertisers and agencies.

“With a youthful population, a large percentage (of which is) under 30 years old, there has been increased investment in digital advertising, social media marketing, and content creation tailored to local tastes,” El-Hajj said.

Driven by the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom is developing and diversifying its economy, leading to growth in the numbers of small and medium-sized businesses in the advertising and digital sectors, he added. Authorities in the country are also easing restrictions on cultural activities, which has “sparked a demand for innovative content and digital-media consumption.”

Thanks to these developments “Saudi Arabia’s creative and media industry is on a trajectory of continued expansion” with the aim of “positioning the Kingdom as a regional hub for media and entertainment” El-Hajj said.

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Media group IMI and UAE Media Council sign deal to recruit and train local talent

Media group IMI and UAE Media Council sign deal to recruit and train local talent
Updated 14 November 2024
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Media group IMI and UAE Media Council sign deal to recruit and train local talent

Media group IMI and UAE Media Council sign deal to recruit and train local talent
  • Collaboration is part of the Media Apprenticeship Program launched last year by the Media Council and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council
  • It targets existing Emirati media professionals, as well as graduates and final-year students in media-related studies

DUBAI: IMI, a media group in the UAE formerly known as International Media Investments, has signed a cooperation agreement with the UAE Media Council to train and recruit local talent and develop media infrastructure in the country.

The initiative is part of the Media Apprenticeship Program, an initiative launched in May 2023 by the UAE Media Council and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council. It targets existing Emirati media professionals, as well as graduates and final-year students in media-related studies, with the aim of developing the next generation of talent in the nation’s media sector.

The agreement was signed at IMI’s new headquarters in Abu Dhabi by Mohammed Saeed Al-Shehhi, secretary-general of the UAE Media Council, and Rani Raad, CEO of the recently rebranded IMI Group, which owns several news outlets including Sky News Arabia, The National newspaper, Al-Ain News and CNN Business Arabic.

“We are proud to be the first global media group in the UAE to partner with the UAE Media Council on this initiative,” said Raad.

IMI Group, he added, can offer “aspiring Emirati talent unique opportunities to learn about the best media assets and standards” through its network of companies and the IMI Media Academy.

Launched in September, the IMI Media Academy employs the latest learning methodologies and offers an advanced curriculum focusing on the media industry, journalism and content creation.

Al-Shehhi highlighted the need to forge stronger partnerships with private media companies, and for cohesive country-wide efforts to develop the sector.

He said the partnership with IMI demonstrates the Media Council’s “commitment to empowering the media sector to attain global leadership by investing in the development of national skills and talents and equipping them with the latest media tools and technologies.”

It also aligns with the council’s desire “to nurture a new generation of talents capable of spearheading the sector and achieving significant accomplishments in the future,” he added.


Spotify introduces ‘Fresh Finds Saudi: Class 2k24’ residency program for emerging talent

Spotify introduces ‘Fresh Finds Saudi: Class 2k24’ residency program for emerging talent
Updated 15 November 2024
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Spotify introduces ‘Fresh Finds Saudi: Class 2k24’ residency program for emerging talent

Spotify introduces ‘Fresh Finds Saudi: Class 2k24’ residency program for emerging talent
  • Initiative covers songwriting and music production, music marketing, music rights and industry knowledge, and touring and performing
  • The Kingdom is an ‘incredibly exciting market’ for Spotify, says platform’s regional managing director

DUBAI: Spotify this month introduced Fresh Finds Saudi: Class 2k24, the first iteration of a program dedicated to the promotion and development of the emerging music scene in the Kingdom.

“We’re incredibly thrilled to launch Fresh Finds Saudi: Class 2k24 and are eager to see the impact it will have on the career growth of the selected artists,” Akshat Harbola, managing director of Spotify in the Middle East and North Africa region, told Arab News.

The program, which ran from Nov. 6 to 11, represented “a long-term investment in nurturing up-and-coming talent, starting with a residency format this year,” he added.

It brought together four local talents who feature on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Arabia playlist, a showcase of the best new music by independent artists and labels from the region: BrownMusic, known for merging Arabic and English lyrics with contemporary experimental electronic beats; hip-hop artist Grzzlee; Kali-B, a singer, songwriter and producer; and Seera, an all-female Arabic psychedelic rock band.

They were chosen by Spotify’s local editorial team as “standout talent” that had “already made an impression on our Fresh Finds Arabia playlist,” Harbola said.

Spotify seeks to showcase different musical genres through the program, he added, and so “we took special care to prioritize a diverse range of styles that highlight the new generation of creators” from Saudi Arabia. The selected artists “have proven they can connect with listeners and are ready to elevate their careers.”

The residency program provided them with support, mentorship and a host of resources aimed at accelerating their growth as artists and expanding their presence in the Saudi music industry, Spotify said.

The program’s curriculum focused on four topics: songwriting and music production; music marketing; music rights and industry knowledge; and touring and performing.

Experts such as lyricist, writer and creative director Menna El-Kiey, and musicians and producers Ntitled, El Waili, Soufiane Az and Ismail Nosrat, offered guidance to the participants on songwriting, beat-making, mixing and mastering.

Amin Kabbani, vice president of Arabic talent at entertainment company Live Nation Middle East, provided insights into planning and executing a successful tour, managing logistics and engaging with fans.

Sony Publishing MENA led the session on music rights and industry knowledge, during which the participants learned about intellectual property, and how to protect their work and navigate the business side of their art.

Spotify also worked with the artists to record new tracks at creative hub Merwas in Riyadh, and the results will be released by the end of the year. Nada Al-Tuwaijri, the CEO of Merwas, said the studio is “committed to nurturing talent and providing artists with the tools and environment they need to unlock their creative potential.”

She added: “The Fresh Finds Saudi: Class 2k24 initiative aligns perfectly with our vision of supporting emerging talent in the Kingdom, the region and beyond.”

Harbola said that the Kingdom is “an incredibly exciting market” for Spotify and although he was “unable to share specific listenership rankings, the level of engagement in Saudi Arabia is truly remarkable.”

The company is seeing a “strong surge” in the popularity of pop music, especially Egyptian pop, and Khaleeji music, “which remains central to Saudi listeners,” he added.

The platform’s focus on the Kingdom has grown in recent months through initiatives such as “Tarab,” a campaign that celebrated Khaleeji music and spotlighted Saudi-based RADAR Arabia artist Sultan Al-Murshed in New York’s Times Square.

Harbola said that the burgeoning local music scene and audience engagement on Spotify is driving the company’s efforts to introduce initiatives such as Fresh Finds Saudi: Class 2k24 and commit to them on a long-term basis

“While we don’t have set dates for future iterations (of the residency), our focus remains on curating unique experiences tailored to artists’ needs in different markets, whether through this initiative or other Spotify Music Programs across MENA,” he added.


Lebanese journalist Soukaina Mansour Kawtharani killed in Israeli strike on Joun

Lebanese journalist Soukaina Mansour Kawtharani killed in Israeli strike on Joun
Updated 14 November 2024
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Lebanese journalist Soukaina Mansour Kawtharani killed in Israeli strike on Joun

Lebanese journalist Soukaina Mansour Kawtharani killed in Israeli strike on Joun
  • Her death brings the toll of Lebanese media workers killed to 12

LONDON: Lebanese journalist Soukaina Mansour Kawtharani was killed alongside her two children and other family members in an Israeli airstrike on a three-story residential building in Joun, near Sidon in southern Lebanon.

Kawtharani, who worked as a correspondent for Radio Al-Nour, a station seen as close to Hezbollah, was reported dead on Wednesday by the radio station.

The airstrike targeted the building, which was housing displaced families, on Tuesday.

Joseph Qosseifi, president of the Lebanese Press Editors’ Association, condemned the attack, calling it a “crime” and urging international human rights organizations, the International Criminal Court, the General Federation of Arab Journalists and UNESCO to take action.

In a statement issued through the official National News Agency, he said: “The Israeli enemy makes no distinction between civilians and combatants in its bombardments, violates every law, charter and pact, and speaks only the language of fire and blood.”

The building, reportedly owned by the Ghosn family — relatives of Carlos Ghosn, the Brazil-born French Lebanese businessman and former automotive executive — was completely destroyed in the strike, which killed 15 people, including eight women and four children, and injured 12, according to the Health Ministry.

Kawtharani’s death brings the number of Lebanese journalists and media workers killed since the beginning of the Israeli-Hamas conflict to 12, according to the Lebanese Press Editors’ Association.


Parody news website the Onion buys Alex Jones’ Infowars out of bankruptcy

Parody news website the Onion buys Alex Jones’ Infowars out of bankruptcy
Updated 14 November 2024
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Parody news website the Onion buys Alex Jones’ Infowars out of bankruptcy

Parody news website the Onion buys Alex Jones’ Infowars out of bankruptcy
  • Families of victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting backed the Onion’s bid

NEW YORK: The parody news website the Onion bought conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars brand and website in a bankruptcy auction, according to court documents filed on Thursday.
Jones filed for bankruptcy protection in 2022 after courts ordered him to pay $1.5 billion for defaming the families of 20 students and six staff members killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Jones, unable to pay those legal judgments, was forced to auction his assets, including Infowars, in bankruptcy.
The Connecticut families of eight victims of the school shooting backed the Onion’s bid, saying it would put “an end to the misinformation machine” that Jones operated.
The Onion said it aims to replace “Infowars’ relentless barrage of disinformation” with the Onion’s “relentless barrage of humor.” “The Onion is proud to acquire Infowars, and we look forward to continuing its storied tradition of scaring the site’s users with lies until they fork over their cold, hard cash,” the Onion CEO Ben Collins said in a statement. Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, said it will serve as the exclusive advertiser on the new Infowars.
The Onion will acquire Infowars’ intellectual property, including its website, customer lists and inventory, certain social media accounts and the Infowars production equipment, the families said in a statement.
“They’re shutting us down,” Jones said on social media site X. “I’m going to be here until they come in here and turn the lights off.”


Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X

Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X
Updated 14 November 2024
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Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X

Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X
  • Bluesky said Wednesday that its total users surged to 15 million, up from roughly 13 million at the end of October
  • Championed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky was an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February

LOS ANGELES: Social media site Bluesky has gained 1 million new users in the week since the US election, as some X users look for an alternative platform to post their thoughts and engage with others online.
Bluesky said Wednesday that its total users surged to 15 million, up from roughly 13 million at the end of October.
Championed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky was an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That invite-only period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other features. The platform resembles Elon Musk’s X, with a “discover” feed as well a chronological feed for accounts that users follow. Users can send direct messages and pin posts, as well as find “starter packs” that provide a curated list of people and custom feeds to follow.
The post-election uptick in users isn’t the first time that Bluesky has benefitted from people leaving X. Bluesky gained 2.6 million users in the week after X was banned in Brazil in August — 85 percent of them from Brazil, the company said. About 500,000 new users signed up in the span of one day last month, when X signaled that blocked accounts would be able to see a user’s public posts.
Despite Bluesky’s growth, X posted last week that it had “dominated the global conversation on the US election” and had set new records. The platform saw a 15.5 percent jump in new-user signups on Election Day, X said, with a record 942 million posts worldwide. Representatives for Bluesky and for X did not respond to requests for comment.
Bluesky has referenced its competitive relationship to X through tongue-in-cheeks comments, including an Election Day post on X referencing Musk watching voting results come in with President-elect Donald Trump.
“I can guarantee that no Bluesky team members will be sitting with a presidential candidate tonight and giving them direct access to control what you see online,” Bluesky said.
Across the platform, new users — among them journalists, left-leaning politicians and celebrities — have posted memes and shared that they were looking forward to using a space free from advertisements and hate speech. Some said it reminded them of the early days of X, when it was still Twitter.
On Wednesday, The Guardian said it would no longer post on X, citing “far right conspiracy theories and racism” on the site as a reason. At the same time, television journalist Don Lemon posted on X that he is leaving the platform but will continue to use other social media, including Bluesky.
Lemon said he felt X was no longer a place for “honest debate and discussion.” He noted changes to the site’s terms of service set to go into effect Friday that state lawsuits against X must be filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas rather than the Western District of Texas. Musk said in July that he was moving X’s headquarters to Texas from San Francisco.
“As the Washington Post recently reported on X’s decision to change the terms, this ‘ensures that such lawsuits will be heard in courthouses that are a hub for conservatives, which experts say could make it easier for X to shield itself from litigation and punish critics,’” Lemon wrote. “I think that speaks for itself.”
Last year, advertisers such as IBM, NBCUniversal and its parent company Comcast fled X over concerns about their ads showing up next to pro-Nazi content and hate speech on the site in general, with Musk inflaming tensions with his own posts endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory.