MDLBEAST, the Saudi Arabian entertainment company behind the Soundstorm festival, has partnered with Apple Music to release a curated collection of live sets recorded at Soundstorm 2025. The collection is now available globally on Apple Music in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, offering listeners an immersive way to experience one of the Middle East's most influential music festivals beyond its physical stage.
Global Release of Live Performances
Recorded at MDLBEAST's 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's identity, while positioning Saudi Arabia more firmly within the global electronic and live music conversation.
First Middle Eastern Festival Collection in Spatial Audio
The 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. According to Talal Al-Bahiti, chief operating officer and head of music at MDLBEAST, 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.
MDLBEAST and Apple Music Collaboration
“Soundstorm has always been about creating experiences that reflect the scale and energy of the region’s music scene,” said Al-Bahiti. “Working 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.” Al-Bahiti added: “For 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.”
Broader Cultural Shift in Saudi Arabia
Al-Bahiti noted that the timing reflects a broader shift in the Kingdom's cultural landscape, moving from early ambition to tangible outcomes. “Five or six years ago, the conversation was about potential,” he said. “Today, we’re seeing the results of that investment in the ecosystem through artists, labels, venues, events and original music reaching wider audiences far beyond the region.” He emphasized that live performances are often the most powerful expression of an artist, but traditionally those moments only exist for the people who were physically there. “This allows those performances to live longer and reach audiences globally.”
Immersive Experience with Spatial Audio
Commenting on the collaboration, Stephen Campbell, Apple Music's global head of dance, electronic and DJ mixes, said the format is designed to bring listeners closer to the live experience. He added: “By capturing these performances in Spatial Audio and bringing them to Apple Music, we’re 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’s the closest thing to being there.”
Artists Reflect on Spatial Audio Experience
Elfuego, who performed at Soundstorm and is featured in the release, said: “A 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.” He added that revisiting his set in Spatial Audio brings back the atmosphere of the festival. “When I listen back to my set, it takes me straight back to that stage, that energy and that connection with the audience. It’s the closest thing to reliving the festival all over again.”
MDLBEAST's Broader Strategy for Music Ecosystem
The collaboration also reflects MDLBEAST's 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: “It has always been part of MDLBEAST’s 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.” He highlighted the diversity of Saudi Arabia's music landscape, noting: “Sometimes 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’s growth today.”
