Music Cities Awards: A Grand Debut in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh
For the first time, Saudi Arabia hosted the prestigious Music Cities Awards in Riyadh, as part of the highly anticipated Riyadh Music Week. This global event celebrates impactful initiatives that leverage music as a tool to drive economic, social, environmental, and cultural development in cities worldwide. A Global Platform for Musical Innovation Launched in 2020, the Music Cities Awards have established themselves as a premier global platform to honor groundbreaking initiatives using music to enhance community development. This annual eve…
Billboard Arab Music Awards 2024: A Landmark Celebration of Arab Music
The countdown has begun for the Billboard Arab Music Awards 2024, an event poised to honor outstanding achievements in Arab music. Scheduled to take place on December 11, this inaugural awards ceremony will be a highlight of the first-ever Riyadh Music Week. The event celebrates Arab and North African artists whose works have achieved remarkable success on global streaming platforms. With over 30 categories, it promises to showcase the diversity and richness of the Arab music scene. The full list of finalists has been revealed. Song of the Y…
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Sells Its Stake in Live Nation Entertainment, Reaping Significant Profits
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has fully exited its investment in Live Nation Entertainment, concluding a lucrative venture that saw its stake more than triple in value since its initial acquisition during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sale, revealed in an SEC filing on November 14, marks the end of PIF’s strategic involvement in the live entertainment industry giant, which is the parent company of Ticketmaster. The fund's exit follows a period of rapid growth for Live Nation as the global live entertainment sector recovered fr…
Emirates Integrates Spotify Content into Inflight Entertainment for Enhanced Passenger Experience
Emirates has announced a partnership with Spotify, enabling passengers to access curated playlists and podcasts directly through its inflight entertainment system, ice. Starting today, Emirates customers can select from a range of Spotify's curated music and podcasts as part of the airline's inflight offering. Ian Geller, Spotify's VP of Business Development, commented on the partnership: "At Spotify, we want to be everywhere our listeners are, so we’re thrilled to partner with Emirates to deliver best-in-class playlist and …
MDLBEAST and XP Music Futures Reach the Finals of the Anthem Awards!
MDLBEAST and XP Music Futures have reached the finals of the prestigious Anthem Awards, standing out among 2,300 global projects. Their nomination is within the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion category, which highlights initiatives that contribute to fostering diversity and creating positive social impact through music. This nomination reflects MDLBEAST and XP Music Futures’ commitment to making music a platform for all voices, regardless of cultural or social backgrounds. Their music events provide a space where diverse generations and cul…
Amr Diab is Back! Exploring His New Sony Music Deal and Return to Streaming
After nearly three years, the legendary Egyptian pop star is set to make a grand return to major music streaming platforms, with all his albums and beloved music videos soon available once more on YouTube and other platforms. This much-anticipated comeback follows a period of absence beginning in early 2022, when Diab signed an exclusive deal with Anghami. As a result, albums released under his label, Nay, were removed from platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube—a decision that disappointed many fans. However, it seems the wait is …
Music Loves Threads: A New Program for MENA Artists
Music Loves Threads is a newly announced initiative aimed at enhancing how music artists in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region connect with their audiences. The program is designed to extend audio-visual expression from popular platforms like Instagram and Facebook to Meta's latest social app, Threads, which focuses on deeper community engagement. While still in the early stages, Music Loves Threads encourages artists to use Threads for more meaningful interactions with their fans. By sharing behind-the-scenes content, exclusiv…
ESMAA Strikes Landmark Music Licensing Deal with Anghami
ESMAA, has reached a groundbreaking music licensing agreement with Anghami, the leading MENA-focused streaming platform. This partnership marks a significant moment for the region’s music industry, as it represents the first deal of its kind between international independent music publishers and a local streaming service in the MENA region. ESMAA represents the extensive catalog of MENA-based music publisher PopArabia, including a wealth of Arabic music and global sub-published repertoire. The organization also manages the rights of IMPEL, a c…
Billboard Arabia to Launch First Music Awards in Riyadh, Highlighting Arab Music's Growth
On September 10, 2024, Billboard Arabia announced the inaugural edition of its music awards, set to take place on December 11 at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh. This event, held during Riyadh Music Week, is part of a collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Music Commission. The awards aim to celebrate Arab musical achievements, using data from the Billboard platform to determine the winners, offering a fresh perspective on regional music success. A New Stage for Arab Talent The awards ceremony forms part of the Saudi Musi…
Benghazi Summer Festival Returns After 15 Years
After a 15-year hiatus, the highly anticipated Benghazi Summer Festival is set to make a grand return from August 1st to August 15th. Organized by the Ajyalna Foundation, the festival promises an enriching blend of artistic, sports, and cultural activities, positioning itself as a marquee event in the region’s cultural calendar. Festival Line-Up: Samara Nordo Elgrand ToTo Weal Jasser Mouh Milano Mansor Unknown Marwan Moussa Aljundi Ka7la Akhras Gabriel Batistuta Ronaldinho The festival will showcase a variety of concerts featuring top Arab sin…
The 19th Edition of Mawazine Festival Kicks Off with Star-Studded Performances
The 19th edition of Mawazine Festival commenced with a vibrant evening featuring Lebanese artist Hiba Tawaji on the stage of the National Theatre Mohammed V on Thursday, June 20th. Tawaji adorned a traditional Kanoun hat during her performance, adding a festive touch to the event, which concluded with her greeting the audience and waving the Moroccan flag. She later shared moments from the press conference on her Instagram, thanking Mawazine for their warm welcome and professionalism. Following suit, Balqees was warmly welcomed in Rabat, whe…
Rebuilding Dreams: The Bold Reinvention of OSN+ in the Middle East
A Symphony of Courage, Resilience, and Innovation from the Arab World In a landscape where the technology sector races against the clock, the story of OSN+’s dramatic transformation stands as a beacon of what is possible with sheer determination and ingenuity. Imagine reconstructing an entire video streaming platform in just 120 days. This isn’t a tale from Silicon Valley – it’s a narrative that unfolded in the heart of the Middle East. Rising to the Challenge "We undertake these tasks not because they are easy, but because they present a…
MDLBEAST Unveils New Music Publishing Division to Empower Creators Across MENA
In a significant move for the Middle Eastern music industry, Saudi Arabia-based entertainment powerhouse MDLBEAST has announced the launch of MDLBEAST Publishing. This new division is dedicated to nurturing and promoting songwriters, producers, and artists from Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Global Reach and Strategic Partnerships MDLBEAST Publishing is not only set to make waves locally but also aims to extend its influence globally through a strategic partnership with Sentric. This collaboration will…
Top Music Distribution Companies Leading the MENA Market
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with its diverse and vibrant musical heritage, has become a significant player in the global music industry. Several leading music distribution companies have established a strong presence in this region, contributing to its dynamic growth and cultural exchange. Here's a closer look at the top companies driving the music distribution landscape in the MENA market and their role in the emerging growth of digital music consumption. Warner Music Group (WMG): Warner Music Middle East Established: …
Spotify Celebrates Khaleeji Pop with Sultan Al-Murshed and Aseel Hameem in Times Square
Spotify is celebrating the rich tapestry of Arabic music by highlighting Saudi artist Sultan Al-Murshed and Iraqi artist Aseel Hameem as the featured artists for its RADAR Arabia and EQUAL Arabia programs in May. Both artists are being showcased on a prominent billboard in New York City’s Times Square. Nada Elmeri, Spotify’s Artist and Label Partnerships Manager for the Gulf Region at Spotify MENA, emphasized the platform's dedication to Arabic music. “We are committed to showcasing and celebrating genres and creators that reflect the dive…
Unveiling Mawazine 2024: From Nicki Minaj to Local Legends
The Mawazine Rhythms of the World Festival, one of Morocco's most anticipated musical events, is returning for its 19th edition from June 21 to June 29, 2024, after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the festival promises an exceptional lineup, showcasing international, Moroccan, and Arab talents for the enjoyment of millions of festival-goers. A Diverse and High-Quality Lineup Since its inception in 2001, the Mawazine Festival has been committed to delivering top-tier musical diversity. This edition will be no ex…
TikTok Embraces Content Credentials for AI-Generated Content Amid Evolving Relationship with UMG
In a rapid turnaround, TikTok and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMG) have shifted from contention to cooperation regarding AI-generated content (AIGC). Just two months ago, UMG voiced serious concerns about TikTok's handling of AIGC. Now, TikTok is taking significant steps to enhance transparency around such content. TikTok Adopts Content Credentials to Label AI-Generated Content TikTok has begun using "Content Credentials," a cutting-edge technology from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), to automa…
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