\n\tRiyadh: Saudi Arabia\u2019s MDLBEAST and Apple Music have partnered to release a curated collection of live sets recorded at Soundstorm 2025, now available globally on Apple Music in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, offering listeners an immersive way to experience one of the Middle East\u2019s most influential music festivals beyond its physical stage.<\/p>\n
\n\tRecorded at MDLBEAST\u2019s flagship festival, Soundstorm, the release brings together performances from a diverse lineup of local, regional and international artists, including Armin van Buuren, Alok, Steve Aoki, Omar Basaad, Elfuego, Sidney Samson, N.A.H, Nikaya, DJ Viva, The Engineers, and Gino & Enzo Ingrosso. The collection reflects the scale and variety that have come to define the festival\u2019s identity, while positioning Saudi Arabia more firmly within the global electronic and live music conversation.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe initiative marks the first time a live festival collection from the Middle East has been released in Spatial Audio, allowing audiences worldwide to experience festival performances in a multidimensional sound format designed to replicate the energy and depth of a live environment.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cSoundstorm has always been about creating experiences that reflect the scale and energy of the region\u2019s music scene,\u201d said Talal Al-Bahiti, chief operating officer and head of music at MDLBEAST. \u201cWorking with Apple Music allows us to extend that experience beyond the festival itself and give audiences around the world a new way to connect with the music and talent coming out of this region.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAl-Bahiti added that the collaboration is rooted less in technology and more in accessibility, allowing performances that once existed only within the festival grounds to reach global audiences.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cFor us, this collaboration is less about technology and more about accessibility. Soundstorm has grown into a platform that brings together local, regional and international talent at scale, but not everyone can experience it in person. This allows us to extend that experience beyond the festival itself,\u201d he said, adding that the timing reflects a broader shift in the Kingdom\u2019s cultural landscape, moving from early ambition to tangible outcomes.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cFive or six years ago, the conversation was about potential,\u201d Al-Bahiti said. \u201cToday, we\u2019re seeing the results of that investment in the ecosystem through artists, labels, venues, events and original music reaching wider audiences far beyond the region.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cA live performance is often one of the most powerful expressions of who an artist is, but traditionally those moments only exist for the people who were physically there,\u201d Al-Bahiti said. \u201cThis allows those performances to live longer and reach audiences globally.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tCommenting on the collaboration, Apple Music\u2019s global head of dance, electronic and DJ mixes, Stephen Campbell, said the format is designed to bring listeners closer to the live experience.<\/p>\n
\n\tHe added: \u201cBy capturing these performances in Spatial Audio and bringing them to Apple Music, we\u2019re giving listeners everywhere the chance to experience Soundstorm with immersive, three-dimensional sound. For listeners using Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking on AirPods, the sound moves around you, creating an experience that\u2019s the closest thing to being there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tElfuego, who performed at Soundstorm and is featured in the release, said: \u201cA DJ set is more than music; it creates eternal memories and shared moments between the artist and the crowd. Soundstorm creates those moments on a massive scale, and Spatial Audio captures them in a way that feels remarkably real.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tHe added that revisiting his set in Spatial Audio brings back the atmosphere of the festival.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWhen I listen back to my set, it takes me straight back to that stage, that energy and that connection with the audience. It\u2019s the closest thing to reliving the festival all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe collaboration also reflects MDLBEAST\u2019s broader strategy of building a long-term, sustainable music ecosystem in Saudi Arabia that extends beyond live events and into recording, distribution, education and global partnerships. Al-Bahiti said the focus has always been on infrastructure as much as talent: \u201cIt has always been part of MDLBEAST\u2019s vision. We always believed the talent existed. The challenge was not the talent itself, but building the platforms, infrastructure and opportunities that allow it to be discovered.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe industry\u2019s biggest transformation has been its evolution from isolated talent into a connected ecosystem, supported by more venues and events, stronger industry infrastructure and growing interest from global partners.<\/p>\n
\n\tAl-Bahiti also highlighted the diversity of Saudi Arabia\u2019s music landscape, and said: \u201cSometimes people talk about the Saudi music scene as one thing. In reality, there are many different communities, genres and creative movements developing at the same time. Moreover, there is a real appetite for discovering music, supporting artists and engaging with different genres, and that is a huge part of what is driving the industry\u2019s growth today.\u201d
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