Palestine Music Conference: Jafra Production with AFD & Expertise France committed to foster a vibrant music ecosystem

Provide a shared and secure space for all music industry stakeholders

Previously the fastest growing market in 2021, MENA had third highest growth rate in 2022 in terms of recorded music revenue, seeing increase of 23.8%, and representing the highest share for streaming of any region globally (95.5%) The music sector within this context holds substantial economic potential. Besides, the music industry plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the Palestinian identity. The structuring and exporting the Palestinian musical and artistic scene helps to promote a positive image of Palestine abroad, breaking with the vision of a fragmented society.

The conference program extended to the summer of 2023 and included various components:

a 2 days conference at Al Qattan, a series of workshops, the development of research papers but also an awareness campaign. The objective is to unite all stakeholders in the music industry, fostering dialogue and improve knowledge about the sector and understand the challenges it faces and ways to address them. With a specific focus on legal frameworks, digital innovation, community engagement, and music education, PMC aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the music industry in Palestine as a whole.

A Franco-Palestinian project to foster the Palestinian musical ecosystem

Since January 2023, Expertise France has been implementing a program to Support the Palestinian Music Industry (SPMI) funded by the Agence Française de Développement, in partnership with the French Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music (SACEM) and the Palestinian company Jafra Production.

This project aims at boosting the structuring and development of the Palestinian musical ecosystem for the support of musical creation, particularly among Palestinian youth. It also aims at promoting, making accessible and giving credibility to the choice of artistic careers, while promoting Palestinian heritage and identity. It targets young people in particular, but it also supports the social and economic inclusion of women, who actively participate in musical production.

This project is divided into three areas of intervention:

• Support for Palestinian musical creation as a whole, enabling artists to earn a decent income from their creations and protect them by supporting the renovation of the copyright law and establishing the basis of the development of a Collective Management Organization;
• developing entrepreneurship and professionalizing the sector by developing trainings, masterclasses and workshops towards artists and professionals of the music industry;
• Innovation and networking development by supporting the creation of a Palestinian Music Network, study visits in France or trainings on digitals

This project also aims to promote, make accessible and give credibility to the choice of artistic careers, while enhancing Palestinian heritage and identity.

“The project will also help to protect artists, by allowing them to legally and legitimately collect the royalties generated by their works. We have many ambitions, first to lay the foundations of a virtuous and sustainable industry. What is happening here in Palestine, through this project, is unique and can serve as an example for the entire MENA area.”

Samer Jaradat, founder and CEO of Jafra Production

Program of the Conference

The two-day Palestine Music Conference is set to converge at the A.M Qattan Foundation, Ramallah, on September 20th and 21st, 2023. This event promises to be a dynamic platform, uniting music industry pioneers, legal experts, artists, and cultural enthusiasts in an exploration of the past, present, and future of Palestine's rich musical heritage.

**Day 1: Wednesday, September 20, 2023**

*Session 1: The music industry in Palestine - reality and vision (11:15 AM - 12:15 PM)*

Esteemed speakers including Suhail Khoury, General Director of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, and Samir Jubran of the renowned trio "Joubran," will provide an insightful overview of the evolution of Palestine's music industry over the past four decades. Discussions will encompass the industry's resilience amidst political, social, and economic changes, culminating in global recognition. The session will also spotlight current challenges and future strategies to elevate the industry both locally and internationally.

*Session 2: Legal frameworks in Palestine – current legal infrastructure, and priorities for improvement (12:30 PM - 1:45 PM)*

Distinguished panelists, including Issa Kassis, Mayor of Ramallah, Habib Achour, Director of International Development at SACEM, and legal consultant Riyad Ayassi, will dissect the existing legal frameworks supporting musicians and artists in Palestine. The session will also scrutinize advocacy initiatives aimed at enhancing creative rights protection and financial benefits for artists.

*Session 3: Community and audience engagement (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM)*

Esteemed guests Dr. Issa Boulos, Ragheda Andoni, and Sally Abu Bakr will delve into the pivotal role of communities and audiences in shaping the success of the music industry. Insights will be shared on engaging local communities, enhancing accessibility, and activating public spaces for collective exposure and interaction with music and musicians.

**Day 2: Thursday, September 21, 2023**

*Session 1: Music industry education in Palestine, beyond music theory (11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)*

A thought-provoking panel featuring Suhail Khoury, Iyad Staiti, Tareq Jundi, and Heather Bursheh will examine the current state of music education in Palestine. The discussion will range from foundational theory to industry intricacies, with a focus on aligning educational opportunities with industry demands.

*Session 2: Models for artistic mobilization and protection (12:45 PM - 1:45 PM)*

This session will address artistic mobilization and protection, exploring ways to safeguard artistic freedom and equal opportunities within socio-economic and political contexts. The panel will draw insights from global models, emphasizing the role of copyright management organizations in protecting creative rights and financial sustainability.

*Session 3: The Industry from Artists' Perspective (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM)*

This panel offers a glimpse into the challenges and needs faced by Palestinian artists in navigating the music industry. Prominent artists, including Tareq Abboushi, Marwan Halabi, Makimakkuk, and Majd Hajjajj, will share personal experiences and local initiatives, shedding light on social, economic, and political factors influencing artistic growth.

*Closing Speech (3:00 PM)*

The conference will culminate in a closing address, summarizing the invaluable insights and discussions of the preceding sessions.

About the Palestine Music Conference

The Palestine Music Conference is an initiative aimed at fostering dialogue, collaboration, and growth within Palestine's diverse and dynamic music industry. By bringing together industry leaders, legal experts, and artists, the conference seeks to empower and advance the Palestinian music ecosystem.

About Agence Française de Développement Group

AFD Group contributes to the implementation of France’s policies for sustainable development and international solidarity. The Group includes Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which finances the public sector, NGOs, research and training; its subsidiary Proparco, which is dedicated to the private sector; and Expertise France, a technical cooperation agency. The Group finances, supports and accelerates the transitions needed for a fairer, more resilient world.

With our partners, we are building shared solutions with and for the people in more than 150 countries, as well as in 11 French Overseas Departments and Territories. As part of the commitment of France and the French people to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, our teams are at work on 4,200 projects in the field. Our objective is to reconcile economic development with the preservation of common goods, from peace, the climate and biodiversity to health, education and gender equality. Towards a world in common.

About Expertise France

Expertise France is France’s public agency and interministerial actor in charge of international technical cooperation, the second-largest in Europe. As a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement Group (AFD Group), it designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries. Expertise France works in key areas of development: governance, security, climate change, health, education, and more. Alongside its partners, it contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Know-how in common. |For more information: www.expertisefrance.fr