Tarek ElMendelek on Rethinking the Artist Management Playbook

Arguably one of the most prolific artist managers in the region’s music industry, Tarek ElMendelek wears many hats - and he wears them well. With experience spanning touring, A&R, and artist management, he has built a career shaping the trajectories of some of the region's most compelling artists, including Tul8te, Zeyne, and Dafencii.

Hailing from Lebanon, ElMendelek began by supporting artists in staging live shows across the country before moving into artist management at Grass Fed Music in LA, where he worked with artists and producers collectively amassing over 110 million streams. He later joined TikTok as a Label & Artist Partnerships Manager, contributing to regional and international campaigns including Ali Loka’s 'Matkhafish Yamma' and DJ Snake’s 'Disco Maghreb'.

Now serving as Talent and Product Manager at Saudi label MDLBEAST Records, Tarek continues to shape the next wave of regional talent, playing a key role in developing emerging artists into fully realised acts.

At the inaugural edition of TEMPO Summit in Beirut, we caught up with Tarek, where he discusses his beginnings, recalling the turning point in his career, unpacking his approach to artist management, and what it really takes for artists to break through today.