Episode 54: The rise of the underdog artist at music awards

This week on the show, Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal reflect on the recently announced 2025 Grammy nominations. Beyonce leads with 11, becoming the most-nominated artist of all time, bringing her career total to 99 nominations. The hosts discuss the diversity of genres being recognised by the recording academy and the artists – both new and established – in the race for the most coveted categories. They also share the success stories of rising artists like Raye, who has been nominated for three awards after navigating the difficulties of the music industry and becoming an independent artist. Meanwhile at the MTV Europe Music Awards, which took place last week, singer Mali won as the best Indian act despite having a far more modest following than her contenders. In a special segment of the episode, Maan visits the 10th edition of Dubai Design Week to see how the event has evolved over the years. He speaks to organisers about their quest to elevate regional designers and to reflect the wide range of techniques and styles their works represent. Growing interest in Middle Eastern art is raising the stakes for collectors. The hosts list some of the most significant pieces of high-value Arab and Islamic art, such as the Umayyad-era bronze buck that recently sold for £4.2 million ($5.4 million). They also talk about the expanding role of international auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s in the region, and the platform they offer to Arab artists.