The festival shining a spotlight on Palestinian artists

This year marks the fourth year of the Palestine Music Expo, or PMX, a 3-day music showcase set against the cultural backdrop of Ramallah. The expo’s mission remains as it was from the start: to showcase Palestinian creatives to a local and international audience of record company reps, booking agencies and music supervisors.

Providing artists a platform to use their voice, present their art and learn more about the industry and make connections to further their career, an artist can walk into PMX and potentially walk out entirely changed. The expo also offers a great opportunity for meeting potential collaborators for future projects and for celebrating the music scene in Palestine.

But the expo, for visiting music delegates, intends on being educational and eye-opening. When stories aren’t amplified, people in charge often don’t hear them. PMX makes Plaestinian stories loud an clear, taking delegates on tours around the West Bank borders and refugee camps in order for international directors to better understand the conditions Palestinian artists have risen from.

Bashar Murad via PMX website.

Other facets of the expo include live showcases, workshops with firsthand specialists from various industry niches, and a long-term mentorship program. For artists, PMX-hosted panel discussions offer a source for burning questions. Artists can ask for advice on matters such as getting an agent, comprehending copyright law and starting an independent record label.

Hashim Shawa, CEO of Bank of Palestine, praised the expo, stating, “This is the most significant and important initiative that I’ve seen come to Palestine in the past ten years.”

After only three years, PMX has had a wide impact already, leading to five artist management mentorships, six record deals and twelve bands being booked with international festivals.

In addition, PMX will host a separate 3-day Gaza Kids festival in July inspired by PMX’s relief activity launched during the pandemic, which used music as a tool for emotional support. The festival will be a safe space for kids to make friends, take part in fun activities and games, and experience the sound of Gaza musicians.

Artist submissions for PMX 2022 are now open if you would like the chance to play at Palestine’s most influential cultural event. Click here to check out the Save The Date.

Save The Date: PMX 2022