Get ready to join the international hip-hop, bass and beats scene on ADE Friday

Inspiring Q&A’s, networking sessions, panels and the latest information on upcoming hip-hop markets, business opportunities, and global trends. ADE Beats is the place to be for a full update on the state of hip-hop, bass and beats worldwide.

Inside Roc Nation with co-president Omar Grant
As co-president and Head of A&R of Roc Nation - the entertainment company founded by hip-hop veteran JAY Z- it is Omar Grant’s primary mission to further boost the label’s impressive roster and develop disruptive strategies for its current artists. At his ADE Beats Q&A, Grant will discuss how he operates on a daily basis to create opportunities on a global scale for artists ranging from J. Cole, Rapsody, and Rihanna, to Dutch artists Nicole Bus and Yellow Claw and Brazilian star Claudia Leitte.

The huge global success and influence of Africa’s club sounds
One of the major themes at ADE Beats 2019 is the extensive success of African club sounds. The panel discusses the rise and international influence of afrobeats, Gqom, bongo flava, African rap music, dancehall, African dance music and DJ culture in general with key figures and connectors DJ Lag, Nana Kwama a.k.a. Small God and Timi ‘TMXO’ Aladeloba. Prominent producer Juls will discuss how he shaped the sound of the future over the past years. Rapper Gigi Lamayne will share her view on the hip-hop scene in her South African region.

Q&A Nicki Farag (Def Jam) on a more inclusive industry
In her 1-on-1 talk hosted in association with Top Notch | Noah’s Ark’s Top Class, Def Jam's Executive vice-president Nicki Farag will share her vision on the steps needed to create more representation in the music industry across the board.

Panel: Creating powerful international relations
ADE Beats brings together three key figures from Universal Music Group in Europe: Milad Hosseingholikhan (The Netherlands), Neffi Temur (Germany) and Sureeta Nayyar (United Kingdom). They will talk about breaking international acts in their respective national markets and acts from their own markets on a global level. They are also sharing how to focus on creating powerful international relations between artists, writers, and producers.

EMPIRE BEATS PITCH – with CEO Ghazi Shami
Ghazi Shami, founder, and CEO of EMPIRE developed a business model that disrupted the traditional music industry approach towards label, distribution and publishing services. His company played an important part in the early careers of future icons like Anderson Paak, Kendrick Lamar, Migos, Rich Homie Quan and Sage The Gemini. Shami will be scouting beats for a range of new projects and share his A&R insights with producers and industry professionals alike.

ADE Beats X Melkweg showcases
Next to the always fully packed ADE Beats X Vice Dutch talent showcases at the Vice HQ, the conference presents a new and exciting hip-hop, bass and beats night in collaboration with our trusted conference venue Melkweg. On the evening of Friday, October 18th, you can check out the tunes from The Netherlands and abroad. Find the conference and ADE Beats X Melkweg showcase combi tickets here.

Meet the locals
As every year, ADE Beats also hosts a strong Dutch program including previously announced speakers such as Chivv, Jack, Jebroer, Josylvio, Project Money, Rimon, Snelle, Young Ellens and executives from leading national hip-hop companies like Rotterdam Airlines, ROQ ’N Rolla and Top Notch|Noah’s Ark.

And there's more on the bill
Previously announced headlining speakers for ADE Beats include Deborah Mannis-Gardner, who will discuss the future of sampling and music rights, Phase One CEO Frank Babar on what it takes to create a stable revenue stream and long term music industry careers, and the fabled U.S. production team The Track Masters, will share insights on the deliberate global approach of their new exciting project, the team's latest work with some of the greatest in the game and keeping ownership as a creative. The conference track also hosts an extensive mentor- and network program for female music professionals in the urban music industry with international networking platform shesaid.so.


ADE Beats thanks its partners Buma Cultuur, Eastpak, Foot Locker, Melkweg, Noisey, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Puma, Puna, Sena Performers, Sprite and XITE.

Want to find more hip-hop related events during ADE, check our program here.

ADE Beats, the annual international networking conference for hip-hop, bass and beats, presents international keynote speakers, networking sessions, inspiring music talks, master classes, business cases, and the latest on rising hip-hop, bass and beats markets, business opportunities and emerging trends. The 10th-anniversary edition of the conference takes place at the Melkweg on Friday, October 18th.

Photo credits: Isabel Janssen | Jordy Brada | Joris Raaijman