Dubai Musician seeks risk takers |
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Dubai Musician seeks risk takers. Must be adventurous, patient, GSOH and have their own ear plugs. We have Pop Idol, American Idol and just plain bone idol but what it all boils down to is the fact a star is born every day - and it’s big business. Dubai, UAE is home over 1.5 million people and hidden within its golden walls is a number of very talented individuals bursting to showcase and develop their music. Yet, with this talent ripe for picking, the number of new musicians hitting the world wide or even local music scene is virtually non existent. So what are Dubai entrepreneurs doing about it? Dubai lime Dubai Lime is the brain child of The Ascala Group (www.ascalagroup.com) and is an online social network for Dubai’s growing multi-national population. It is the UAE’s first online forum for original music and entertainment in Dubai. As well as providing a forum for members for exchanging and sharing ideas, Dubai Lime also hosts numerous music, art and cultural events for its members (or “Limers”) across Dubai. Here, music and art lovers can gather to relax and enjoy home team original talent. Within its virtual walls Limers can access video clips, original podcasts, information on events, restaurants and many of Dubai’s tourist attractions. It’s basically a one stop shop for people wishing to find out what’s going on in and around Dubai. Dubai Lime’s success is evident in its figures. Since inception in January 2007, Dubai lime has grown on average 125% each month, it’s first 1000 members through word of mouth only.
About Lime green Entertainments Lime Green Entertainments is Dubai Lime’s holding company. It was created to discover Dubai’s pool of hidden musical talent and provide a platform for these musicians to launch their careers. When a musician approaches Lime Green Entertainments, they are provided with commercial bookings and essential PR and promotion. Open mic sessions held across Dubai are available for musicians to showcase their talent to a curious audience. Lime Green is ambitious. They have tapped into a niche and plan to become Dubai’s leading entertainment company for local talent. Dubai Lime acts as one of their online communities in which Lime Green can interact with new artists and their audiences. The Lime Green founders are technology gurus and as a consequence Lime Green offers DOMP’s or Dubai’s Original Music Podcasts. These are broadcast to over 20,000 consumers world wide on platforms such as ITUNES, Nokia Pod casting and other distribution channels. Lime Green also runs a popular Saturday night radio show in partnership with Dubai’s 92FM. Five nights a week you can find Lime Green open mic nights for Dubai’s original talent at venues scattered across Dubai. You will also hear of Lime Green’s Musical Theatre and various original music concerts. All in all, Lime Green has a reach of over 390,000 music loving consumers through their community websites. Much of Lime Greens success can be attributed to their ethically aware business model. Their dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility can be felt through everything they do. They believe in an integrated and culturally diverse community united by love of music and the arts. Lime Green developments Dubai Lime original music nights are as follows: Saturday night, Central Perk Jumeirah, Tuesday nights Bert’s café at the Marina, Thursday nights the Loft musical Theatre, and one night at Central Perk, Mirdiff. Every Saturday night you can tune into their radio show between 7-9pm at 92fm. Lime Green has about 50 budding Dubai musicians on their books. All are good but some are truly fantastic. These few are bound to hit the mainstream if they continue along the same path. Paul Nolan is a young musician from the UK but resident in Dubai. His changeable voice has an uncanny resemblance to a male Tracey Chapman. What this now means for the Dubai Music scene Bridget Gunner is the Operations Manager at the Loft in Dubai and hosts the Lime Green Theatre on Thursday nights. On these nights 3 sets of chosen musicians have the opportunity perform in front of a paying audience of Arabic and ex-patriot music lovers. The event is held on the 2nd Bridget comments “The loft has overcome some obstacles in the past and people think we’re closed – we need to get out there. The partnership with Dubai Lime came at a good time.” floor lounge bar where for 50 Dirhams you can kick back, relax and enjoy a complimentary free drink or indulge in the cocktail menu. The recently refurbished Loft is dedicating at least 3 months to the Lime Green Theatre. Bridget is realistic about the time it takes for word to get around but optimistic about the future. “Numbers were high on first night, low on second and medium on third. Our message might not be reaching the right people yet but we are definitely pleased with the results”. Interestingly, The Loft is prohibited from using bands consisting of 3 or more people. Regulations set by the DTCM (Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing) state that the Loft can only have musicians perform meaning no more than 2 people on the stage at any one time. This however, fits in well with the musicians on Lime Green’s books. Central Perk Jumeira also runs a regular Dubai Lime night. Philip Abranches, the Assistant Operation Manager says the 3 months they have partnered with Dubai Lime have had some positive results “It’s a good idea for showing talent. Customers are appreciating the music and like the whole atmosphere. The live music blends well with having coffee and there is definitely an increase in clientel during the show.” Philip also appreciates the phone calls he gets throughout the week, asking about the Original Music nights. “There have been a couple of nights where it’s been completely packed. We could not offer any more tables so customers would stand with a coffee in their hand.” Other influences on Dubai’s Original music scene Dubai Lime and Lime Green are not the only ones trying to boost the original music scene in Dubai. The Original Music festival, now in its 2nd year, was founded as an opportunity for local musicians to showcase their talent for one weekend each year. The free concert attracts 100’s of music lovers and plenty of media coverage for Dubai’s original talent. ‘SHAMAL’, Dubai’s Desert Rock festival showcases unsigned rock bands in and around the Middle East to an audience of 1,000 plus each year. Adham Ganem, Founder and Managing Director of Ignite Events, an organisation that promotes the local music scene, said, “There’s a lot of talent in the UAE and we want to help develop it.” A long running show organised by Ignite Events called the assembly offers five bands the opportunity to perform in front of an audience. It aims to promote and enhance original local talent. Solo artists are also fighting to showcase their original music. Abu Dhabi born Naree has just taken a huge leap in her musical career when she opened for Pink this September. She competed with talented musicians from all over the Emirates for the chance to win the Herbal Essence Support Band slot and appear alongside Pink. Her feat went down a storm with surprised concert goers who cheered and applauded what must have been a very nerve wracking performance for the 18 year old and her newly formed band. This is just one of the positive contributions that Dubai Lime is delivering to the talented musical pool in Dubai. It’s not just Dubai pushing original talent. A dozen of the most innovative Middle East artists are touring this summer under the banner of ‘Music Matbakh’ (Arabic for ‘kitchen’). The musicians will perform dynamic sets of new music, encompassing hip hop, rock, jazz, funk and electronica and featuring oud, ney, beautiful vocals and sufi rhythms. The aim is to showcase work internationally, encourage a wider understanding of different cultural environments and nurture creative potential. London Undergrounds Metro newspaper described Music Matbakh as ‘A crucial taster of real voices from the Middle East: positively lucid and thrillingly versatile’. A key platform for the development of the Dubai and Middle East Original music scene is the participation of local radio stations. Dubai radio station 92FM and Nokia have also shown their support for the Dubai original music scene. The Dubai Lime Music Podcast will now be available as a default feed in the Nokia Podcasting application available to all Nokia S60 3.x devices, including the popular Nokia Nseries and Eseries. By partnering with Nokia, the podcast which is generated by Dubai’s Lime’s not for profit music forum every week in collaboration with 92FM, is now downloadable over WLAN or 3G to Nokia users worldwide. These podcasts promotes the very best of Dubai based original music to a global audience.
What the future holds for Dubai music scene The up side… Evidence that the world is watching the Dubai music scene is mounting. Virgin Radio is set to launch in Dubai at the end of 2007 through media giants, Arab Media Group. Virgin’s front man Richard Branson launched virgin records in 1972, with the Tubular Bells album from Mike Oldfield. Before long, additional artists including Janet Jackson and the Sex Pistols helped launch the label innovative and rebellious reputation. Although Virgin sold Virgin Records to Thorn EMI, the essence of good original music can be felt through their radio programmes.
Arab Media Group is also set to launch MTV Arabiya later this year. MTV Arabiya’s launch date is a closely guarded secret but will be 24-hour and free-to-air station. It will feature music videos by Arab and international stars, animated programmes, reality shows and comedies. It will also show its support for the Middle East by featuring locally produced content.
The side to side… The local music scene is not without it’s problems. Dayaan Wickramarachchi, voc-alist for alternative band Gotwood and 20 year old student at the American University of Sharjah, says the local music scene has never been able to sustain any steady growth as band members and fans are constantly coming and going. “There are, however, several members of our community working to revive and reinforce the scene by hosting events and promoting local talent,” he said. Students have made the following comments on a popular blog: ”…fans and bands alike face many obstacles like having no place to go to for concerts. The ones that are held are usually expensive.” “Bands face a lot of problems acquiring a venue for their gigs and these problems either lie in obtaining a licence or the permission for holding the gig. It would have been a lot easier if laws and rules were more flexible.” The Licensing issue is of poignant interest and one which cannot be ignored. Getting a license for a performer is complicated. Rigid regulations make it increasingly difficult to support local talent. The high cost of getting a licence for a performer means promoters can’t always afford to take a gamble on local or unknown artists that may not bring a large crowd.
Not only does the venue need a license, but each performer requires one as well. Given that the pursuit of fresh talent is not initially financially rewarding, very little performers and venue operators seem willing to take the risk and pay the required costs. In addition, the process also can take several days meaning there could never be any spontaneity among the music-loving community. On the up side, Dubai’s existing performers are as a consequence, likely to get a steady work load to the risk adverse venue operators. This however, still leaves a gapping hole for Dubai’s emerging local talent. Music Industry transformation Developing the original music scene in Dubai could transform the entertainment industry. Dubai Encouraging the open exchange of these musicians and paving the way for innovations will inevitable result in unique, ear warming tunes that will put the UAE on the map for extraordinary musical talent. is one of the few places in the world that can boast such a multicultural mix of talent. |
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