The independent music scene in the Levant between 2003 and 2023: do-it-yourself with the support of arts and culture organizations

Abstract

The beginning of the 21st century witnessed the rise of the internet and mobile technologies, as well as the expansion of the digital sphere and the emergence of the Do-It-Yourself music. Simultaneously, it experiences significant changes that reshaped the arts and cultural scene in general, and the music production in particular across the Levant. This period marked the institutionalization of arts and culture production and diffusion. It saw the formation of “intermediate” pan-Arab and regional organizations such as Culture Resource (Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy) and AFAC (The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture), as well as the establishment of small record labels, recording studios, and collectives founded by musicians themselves. These organizations provided subsidies for production and distribution, in addition to programs for artists and cultural practitioners.
This paper aims to understand aspects of music production in the Levant, mainly between 2003 and 2023, with a focus on Lebanon, where most of the relevant arts and cultural organizations are based. The article explores the contribution of these organizations to the music scene in the Levant, the genres or styles funded, and their role in shaping the musical scene. The findings are based on an analysis of data collected from these organizations, complemented by interviews with musicians and music producers conducted to deepen and triangulate the data analysis results.