BBAMA winners will be selected based on their ranking on Billboard Arabia’s flagship charts.
Billboard Arabia has announced the first edition of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards (BBAMAs), set to take place on December 11, 2024, at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh. The event will be a key highlight of the inaugural Riyadh Music Week, a global music initiative featuring festivals and events aimed at uniting the international music community.
Having become a premier platform for discovering Arab artists, Billboard Arabia’s awards show will celebrate a year of musical milestones, including the launch of its flagship charts. The BBAMAs will honour both industry pioneers and emerging talent across categories such as Top Artist, Female Artist, Male Artist and more, spotlighting the year’s biggest hits and breakout stars.
What sets the BBAMAs apart is that winners will be determined by their performance on Billboard Arabia’s flagship charts, such as the Hot 100 and Artist 100, along with newly introduced dialect charts—Khaleeji, Egyptian, Levantine and Maghrebi—and genre-specific charts, including Arabic Hip-Hop, Arabic Indie, Shelat and Mahraganat. These rankings follow Billboard’s time-tested methodologies developed over the past eight decades.
In addition to celebrating the year’s top artists, the BBAMAs will feature live performances from local and regional talent, as well as surprise collaborations and appearances by major international artists. The event will highlight Saudi Arabia’s and the broader region’s diverse musical talent.
Speaking about the award event, Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO of SRMG, said: “In just one year, Billboard Arabia has become the fastest-growing music platform that truly reflects the preferences of millions of music fans and followers across the globe.” Alrashid further emphasised the importance of celebrating the region’s diverse musical and artistic culture through global charts, dialect charts and now the launch of the biggest Arabic music awards show, live in Riyadh.
Alrashid added: “Through the support of the Saudi Music Commission, part of the Ministry of Culture, and SRMG’s strategic partnership with Billboard, this significantly strengthens our ability to spotlight Arab artists to bring their work to global audiences and grow the region’s vibrant music industry.”
Rami M. Zeidan, Managing Director of Billboard Arabia, stated: “I am proud to announce the first edition of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards. As one of the fastest-growing music hubs, Riyadh is the perfect location to celebrate the achievements of Arab artists around the world. Audiences will experience the diversity of Arab music firsthand through live performances. They will see their favourite artists like never before. This is what BBAMAs are all about: ensuring that Arab artists, their music and their stories receive the well-deserved recognition both regionally and globally.”
Mike Van, President of Billboard, stated: “We are proud to bring the Billboard Music Awards to Riyadh. The show remains the preeminent music event worldwide. The BBMAs celebrate and recognise musical talent and chart achievements and we’re thrilled to extend this legacy and vision to the Mena region, highlighting the musical excellence of Arab artists. This show will not only celebrate artists’ commercial success, but also highlight their real impact on the music industry. The focus is on spotlighting artists and the evolving music landscape. Winning at the Billboard Music Awards is not just about one night; it represents an important moment elevating artists toward sustained success in their careers. This year, with the launch of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards, we are applying the same metric-based methodology to showcase Arab artists who have resonated most with music fans worldwide.”
Launched in June 2023, Billboard Arabia has rapidly become a platform that elevates Arab artists on a global scale. By introducing popular Billboard franchises like Billboard Arabia News, Women in Music and its charting systems, the platform has provided the infrastructure needed to connect Arab musicians with wider audiences. Unique initiatives, such as the Jalsat Billboard Arabia studio session series and the groundbreaking Sounds of the Land project, further amplify the region’s rich musical heritage.
