Elita Records: Bringing Global Music to Egypt’s Collectors
Music collectors in Egypt now have a dedicated online destination for international records—Elita Records. Whether you’re looking for CDs, cassettes, or vinyl, this Alexandria-based store offers an extensive catalog at prices far more affordable than overseas purchases. Breaking Barriers for Music Enthusiasts For years, finding physical copies of international pop records in Egypt was nearly impossible. The country’s limited record shops, mostly in Cairo, cater primarily to psychedelic rock and electronic genres, leaving pop music fans struggl…
IFPI 2025 Global Music Report: MENA Leads as Fastest Growing Music Market
The recorded music industry continued its strong growth in 2024, with all global regions experiencing revenue increases, as outlined in the IFPI Global Music Report 2025. Leading this expansion, the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) retained its position as the fastest-growing region, posting an impressive 22.8% rise in recorded music revenues, surpassing $144 million for the year. Streaming remains the dominant force behind MENA’s music industry expansion, contributing a staggering 99.5% of total revenues. The region’s rapid digital trans…
Live Nation Middle East and Egypt’s Inks Deal to Turn Egypt’s New Capital into an Entertainment Powerhouse
Egypt’s Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) has entered into a groundbreaking agreement with Live Nation Middle East and TicketsMarche to elevate the New Administrative Capital (NAC) into a world-class entertainment destination. As part of this collaboration, iconic venues such as People’s Square, Nation’s Park, and the Green River will be transformed into state-of-the-art event spaces. These locations will host large-scale productions, reshaping the entertainment landscape in the region and attracting global audiences. Khaled …
MDLBEAST Unveils ‘A Thousand And One’ Festival to Expand Middle East’s Music Scene
Saudi Arabia-based music entertainment company MDLBEAST is set to revolutionize the Middle East’s music landscape with the launch of its latest festival concept, A Thousand And One , alongside new initiatives for 2025. MDLBEAST recently introduced A Thousand And One , a two-day festival blending electronic music, arts, and immersive storytelling. Scheduled for April 24-25 in Riyadh, the festival aims to create a unique cultural experience, integrating Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage with modern entertainment. Expanding the Music Ecosystem MDLBE…
TikTok and Billboard Arabia Partner to Launch "TikTok Billboard Arabia Top 50" Music Chart
Billboard Arabia and TikTok have officially unveiled their new collaboration, the “TikTok Billboard Arabia Top 50” chart. Announced during TikTok’s annual TikTok Awards, which celebrates emerging regional talent and highlights their success on the platform over the past year, this new initiative puts Middle Eastern artists and their creative work at the forefront of the global music scene. In 2024, TikTok played a significant role in the viral success of various songs, showcasing the platform’s global influence on music. Some of the tracks th…
Balad Beast 2025: Global Stars Meet Local Talent in Jeddah’s Historic Al-Balad
The Balad Beast 2025 music festival promises to bring a vibrant fusion of global and local talent to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on January 30-31. Set against the stunning backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Al-Balad, the event has curated a lineup that celebrates a variety of musical genres and artistry. Headlining the festival are international stars like 21 Savage, Gunna, Metro Boomin’, and Wiz Khalifa, offering fans an unforgettable dose of trap and hip-hop. Beyond these chart-topping acts, attendees will be treated to soulful performa…
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…
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…
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