Makshoof Music - Decision Time

Musicians of the Middle East have taken notice in a big way of Makshoof Music, something which makes us here at triplew.me quite proud. As we close entries on Friday, October 8 2010, and look toward Makshoof Music 2, we thought it the timing was right to announce the judging panel.

Remember votes are open right up until the end of October (we will announce the winner at this time) and then we'll start again, with a different twist.

We've decided to assemble a team with real experience in the Middle East music industry – from recording and production through to music journalism. We hope the mix demonstrates not only the solidarity needed to develop the music industry in the Middle East further, but also to help artists get noticed and heard. We’ll also get the input of independent labels to make sure we’re on the right track.

As you all know, the prize this time is some recording time in Dubai and hopefully a few other nice little surprises.

Without further unnecessary delays, the panel comprises:

Adam Grundey, Editor - Rolling Stone Middle East

Adam is the Editor of Rolling Stone Middle East magazine (launching in November). If you don’t know the legendary Rolling Stone (are there any people reading this who don’t?) and the upcoming Middle East edition; then you won’t know it’s a monthly magazine covering music, movies, current affairs and popular culture, internationally and regionally. Adam’s team at Rolling Stone will be covering a lot of the regional acts on Makshoof Music in the future and more – so keep an eye out at places where all good magazines are sold in November, and of course, their website.

Nash Plenjovic - In The Mix Studios, Dubai

Nash is the owner and head of In The Mix Studios Dubai, the primary sponsor of Makshoof Music. Nash has been at the forefront of the recording business in Dubai for years. Coming from a live-mixing and audio engineering background, Nash’s experience and set up has seen him engineer a number of records in the Middle East and beyond.

The triplew.me team

That’s right, the whole lot of us will make up one-third of the vote. We figured seeing as we’re right amongst it every day, listening to songs, writing about them, telling the world about them; we should have a say. Like the above, it will be a combination of popularity, strength of songwriting and of course, talent.

As we mentioned, we’ll also have various Middle East music industry experts weighing in from time to time.

How It's Going To Work

Each member of the judging panel will rank the artists on a number of key areas (like songwriting and composition, readiness to record etc). A percentage of the vote will be based on the popularity, which will be the last item added to the spreadsheet. And that’s pretty much it, it's really up to the panel to cut down the list and decide on a winner.

Personally, from my perspective, I’d like to thank all the musicians that found us so early, and for those that didn’t – next time! It’s been amazing and we’re looking forward to awarding this prize.

Watch out for Makshoof Music 2, to launch at the end of October. In the meantime - keep voting and discovering on Makshoof Music.

Thanks,

Paul Kelly
Managing Editor