M.I.A.

Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer & Activist

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M.I.A. Biography

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, better known by her stage name M.I.A., is a British rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and activist. She is of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. "M.I.A." is a play on her own name and a reference to the abbreviation of Missing in Action. Her compositions combine elements of alternative, dance, electronic, hip hop and world music. M.I.A. began her career in 2000 as a visual artist, filmmaker and designer in west London before beginning her recording career in 2002. Since rising to prominence in early 2004 for her singles "Sunshowers" and "Galang", charting in Canada and the UK and reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales in the US, she has been nominated for an Academy Award, three Grammy Awards and the Mercury Prize.

She released her debut album Arular in 2005 and her second album Kala in 2007, both to wide critical acclaim. Arular charted in Norway, Belgium, Sweden, Japan and the US, where it reached number 16 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart and number three on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Kala was certified silver in the UK and gold in Canada and the US, where it topped the Dance/Electronic Albums chart. It also charted in several countries across Europe, in Japan and Australia. The album's first single "Boyz" reached the Top 10 in Canada and on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales in 2007, becoming her first Top 10 charting single. The single "Paper Planes" peaked in the Top 20 worldwide and reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. "Paper Planes" was certified gold in New Zealand and three times platinum in Canada and the US where, as of November 2011, it is ranked the seventh best-selling song by a British artist in the digital era. It has become XL Recordings' second best-selling single to date.

M.I.A.'s third album Maya was released in 2010 soon after the controversial song-film short "Born Free". This became her highest-charting album in the UK and the US, reaching number nine on the Billboard 200, topping the Dance/Electronic Albums chart and debuting in the Top 10 in Finland, Norway, Greece and Canada. The single "XXXO" reached the Top 40 in Belgium, Spain and the UK. M.I.A. has embarked on five global headlining tours and is the founder of her own multimedia label, N.E.E.T.. Her fourth studio album, Matangi, was released in 2013, followed by AIM in 2016.

Arulpragasam's early compositions relied heavily on the Roland MC-505 music sequencer and drum machine. Her later work marked an evolution in her sound with rare instruments, electronics and unusual sound samples. Critics have acclaimed a distinctive style to her music. Lyrically incorporating a range of political, social, philosophical and cultural references that have defied existing pop music conventions, Arulpragasam was one of the first acts to come to public attention through the internet. She posted many of her songs and videos from 2002 onwards on platforms such as MySpace.

In 2001, she received an "Alternative" Turner Prize nomination for her visual art. In 2005 and 2008, M.I.A. was artist of the year by Spin and URB and Arulpragasam is named as one of the defining artists of the 2000s decade by Rolling Stone in its "Best of the Decade" list in December 2009. Time magazine named her one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2009. Esquire magazine ranked M.I.A. on its list of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century in January 2010.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/09/2024.

M.I.A. Videos

  • M.I.A. - Borders - YouTube
  • Interview MIA On 'Matangi' - "I Didn't Want To Play The Game ...
  • M.I.A. - Paper Planes

M.I.A. Books

  • M.I.A.
    M.I.A.

FAQs on booking M.I.A.

  • How do I book M.I.A. to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like M.I.A. for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for M.I.A., or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for M.I.A. or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for M.I.A.

    Speaking fees for M.I.A., or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book M.I.A. are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire M.I.A., click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does M.I.A. speak about?

    M.I.A. is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Asian & Pacific Heritage, Celebrity, Civil Rights, Entertainers, Music, Political, Social Activism, Social Justice.
  • Where does M.I.A. travel from?

    M.I.A. generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is M.I.A.’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like M.I.A. for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book M.I.A. for your next private or corporate function.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host M.I.A. or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

M.I.A. is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book M.I.A. for your event is $50,000 - $100,000. M.I.A. generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Common, Wyclef Jean, Kesha, J. Cole and K Flay. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling M.I.A. for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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