Sony Music Entertainment Middle East has signed an exclusive partnership with Egyptian superstar artist Amr Diab, one of the wider MENA region’s best-selling artists.<\/p>\n
According to Sony, this exclusive agreement includes the acquisition of Amr Diab\u2019s “extensive” recorded music catalog, which includes hits like Inta El Haz<\/em>, Zay Manty<\/em> and Ya Ana Ya La.<\/em><\/p>\n Sony has also signed what it calls a “forward-looking multi-album deal” with the artist, who the music company notes is often referred to as the “Father of Mediterranean Music.”<\/p>\n In addition to the catalog acquisition, Sony says that Amr Diab will “embark on creating fresh new music that promises [to] push beyond the boundaries of traditional genres in the region”.<\/p>\n The statement added that his collaboration with Sony Music Middle East “will leverage the company\u2019s global network to explore innovative sounds and partnerships, enriching his international appeal”.<\/p>\n Sony’s acquisition of Amr Diab’s catalog and broader partnership with the superstar arrives at a time of significant growth for the music industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).<\/p>\n Total recorded music revenues in MENA rose by 14.4%<\/strong> in 2023, according to\u00a0IFPI<\/a>\u00a0(global revenues\u00a0grew<\/a>\u00a010.2% YoY), with music streaming holding a 98.4% share of the music market in MENA last year.<\/p>\n The global music industry has become increasingly focused on the region over the past few years, as evidenced by recent moves by likes of Sony Music Entertainment,\u00a0Sony Music Publishing<\/a>,\u00a0Universal Music<\/a>,\u00a0Warner Music Group<\/a> plus non-big-three players like EMPIRE<\/a>.<\/p>\n