The United Arab Emirates government has given the green light to rights management company Music Nation to operate a collective management organization (CMO) in the country. Music Nation says the move will deliver \u201ca vital new source of revenue for music rights holders”.<\/p>\n
The UAE\u2019s Ministry of the Economy issued Music Nation formal approval to license, collect and distribute royalties from public performance, mechanical and neighboring rights, Music Nation said in a statement on Tuesday (June 3).<\/p>\n
Music Nation Chairwoman Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak<\/strong> called the development \u201ca pivotal moment\u201d for the UAE and Music Nation.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter years of careful planning, Music Nation is positioned to become a cornerstone of music licensing, empowering the Emirates\u2019 vibrant creative industry,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In a note to Music Nation stakeholders, obtained by MBW<\/em>, Al Mubarak added that the authorization to operate a CMO is \u201cnot just an industry milestone, it is a personal one. As an Emarati and someone who cares deeply about the creative future of my country and our region, I am honored to play a role in creating a sustainable future for artists, composers, songwriters, and the entire music community here and abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n Music Nation will now begin collecting royalties in the UAE for more than 2 million<\/strong> songwriters, composers, publishers, artists, sound recording owners, and others, in partnership with US-based performance rights org BMI<\/strong> and digital collective management org SoundExchange<\/strong>, with which Music Nation partnered<\/a> in March.<\/p>\n Licensing CMOs is part of a long-term initiative by the UAE to become a creative industry hub. In April, the Ministry of the Economy certified<\/a> the Emirates Music Rights Association<\/strong> (EMRA<\/strong>) as the country\u2019s first CMO.<\/p>\n Music Nation is also one of the partners working to build \u201cthe world\u2019s first purpose-built music city<\/strong>\u201d in the UAE, a hub that will include recording studios and music academies. The city’s mission is \u201cto build sustainable careers in the international music industry and export the region\u2019s signature sound.\u201d<\/p>\n That effort is being guided by Dubai Global Music City<\/strong>\u00a0(DGMC<\/strong>), where Al Mubarak also serves as Chair. Last year, DGMC Productions<\/strong> launched a joint venture label<\/a> with Universal Music Group<\/strong> to sign and develop local artists.<\/p>\n