Universal Music Middle East & North Africa (MENA) a division of Universal Music Group, has entered into a partnership with Harb Talent Management in Egypt.
The partnership will be focused on talent discovery and development in the market.
UMG’s new partnership in Egypt marks its latest move in the MENA region and follows its announcement in August that it has acquired Chabaka Music, a company based in the United Arab Emirates and founded in 2013 by brothers Ala’a and Tarek Makki.
That deal marked UMG’s latest strategic positioning in the MENA recorded music market, following its launch in 2021 of Universal Arabic Music (UAM) in tandem with Republic Records and music biz entrepreneur, Wassim ‘SAL’ Slaiby.
As previously reported by MBW, the commercial potential of MENA for music rightsholders is plain to see. According to stats published by IFPI, the Middle East and North Africa was the world’s fastest-growing market in 2021, and its third-fastest-growing in 2022.
Last year, MENA’s recorded music market grew 23.8% YoY, and represented the highest share for streaming of any region globally, at 95.5%.
Together, Universal Music MENA and Harb Management will jointly work on local talent discovery, development, music production, marketing and promo, live events, and brand partnerships.
According to the announcement, the agreement “builds presence for both companies in the market, super-serving the local artist community”.
To mark the launch, Universal Music MENA has announced three flagship signings to its artist roster.
Ahmed Santa, Slyver and Abu El Anwar – who UMG describes as “three of the most exciting emerging Hip-Hop artists in Egypt with growing pan-Arab fanbases and standout sounds and styles” are all set to release later this year and into 2024.
Universal Music says that the partnership will aim to reinforce its “strategic commitment to the artists in the region and to expand its local repertoire range with a diversity of genres and profiles”.
“It is an exciting time for us to build a presence in Egypt via this partnership with Harb Management”.
Patrick Boulos, Universal Music MENA
Patrick Boulos, CEO of Universal Music MENA said: “It is an exciting time for us to build a presence in Egypt via this partnership with Harb Management”.
“We have a shared passion to develop and support the local music scene in Egypt and offer talents the best of label and management services.”
“We are thrilled to be identified by Universal Music MENA as a local partner in Egypt.”
Sherif Harb, Harb Management
Sherif Harb, founder of Harb Management added: “We are thrilled to be identified by Universal Music MENA as a local partner in Egypt and it is certain that we will be able to work in line with their international network and global infrastructure to better service talents and the local music scene.”Music Business Worldwide
