RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s “MDLBEAST” has partnered with Apple Music to release a curated collection of live performances from the Soundstorm 2025 festival, making the sets available worldwide in spatial audio with Dolby Atmos.
The release brings together live recordings from one of the Middle East biggest music festivals. It features a mix of 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 is designed to give global listeners a more immersive experience of the festival. It is also the first time a Middle Eastern festival has released a full live collection in spatial audio.
MDLBEAST officials said the goal is to extend the festival experience beyond its physical location. They said the partnership allows performances that were once limited to live audiences to reach listeners around the world.
Company leaders also said the project reflects the growth of Saudi Arabia’s music industry. They noted that in recent years the focus has shifted from building potential to delivering real results through artists, events, and music platforms.
Apple Music said the spatial audio format helps recreate the feeling of being at a live event. The company explained that the sound moves around the listener, creating a more realistic and immersive experience, especially for users with supported headphones.
Artists featured in the release said the format helps preserve the energy of live performances. Some said listening back to their sets brings back the atmosphere and emotion of the festival stage.
MDLBEAST also highlighted its broader goal of building a stronger music ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. This includes developing infrastructure for live events, recording, distribution, and artist development.
Officials said the local music scene is growing quickly, with different genres and communities emerging across the country. They added that interest in live music and new artists continues to increase, helping the industry expand both locally and globally.
