Soundexchange’s New Partnership in the UAE
The organization of digital collective management, Soundexchange, has entered the collection and distribution market for neighboring rights in the United Arab Emirates through a new partnership with Music Nation.
Music Nation manages musical rights, licensing them for authors, publishers, owners of sound recordings, and performers across the UAE. It is also linked with Imt as a partner based in the United States.
This collaboration aims to “ensure the collection and dissemination of neighboring rights in the UAE,” as stated in a joint announcement on March 26.
Growth of the Music Market
According to data from IFPI, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region experienced a 22.8% increase in recorded music revenue in 2024, making it the fastest-growing music market globally. Streaming accounts for 99.5% of the total revenue in the MENA region.
Under the agreement, Soundexchange will provide Music Nation with technology, data, and industry insights for royalty management. This will enable Music Nation to effectively collect neighboring rights or royalties owed to the owners of sound recordings, producers, and artists for public performances of their music.
“This partnership marks a milestone for sound recording artists and recording owners in the UAE and all over the world.”
Rasha Caliph al Mubarak Music Nation
“We are excited to collaborate with Soundexchange to start collecting neighboring rights on behalf of our members,” said Rasha Caliph al Mubarak, Chairman of Music Nation.
“This partnership signifies a pivotal moment for sound recording artists and owners in the UAE and worldwide. With a robust and accurate collection and dissemination of adjacent rights fees, Music Nation will contribute to the growth of the vibrant music ecosystem in the region.”
Michael Hipp, President and CEO of Soundexchange, commented: “It is a great honor for us to bring our extensive expertise in managing neighboring rights and state-of-the-art systems to the UAE. Our deep experience in administration, proven track records in setting rates, and premier distribution processes for international creators will foster opportunities in the evolving UAE market.
“Soundexchange is proud to collaborate with Music Nation on this exciting project to help the Emirati community realize the true power and value of their music.”
Currently, Soundexchange manages royalties for 700,000 music creators and over 140 million sound recordings. Since its establishment in 2003, Soundexchange claims to have distributed more than $12 billion to creators and rights holders.
For Soundexchange, this partnership follows its previous international collaboration with the South African Association of Rights to Musical Execution (Sampra) last fall, ensuring that performers from both countries are compensated when their music is played internationally.
The partnership with Music Nation comes at a time when the MENA music market is gaining significant attention and is listed among the largest recorded music markets.
“I encourage others to come and invest here; they will discover the immense opportunities available. It’s rare to find such rich opportunities globally within a sizable population and at the right time,” stated Ghassan Chartouuni, General Director and Founder of Lebanese Indie The Chapter Holds in August.
The UAE stands out as one of the largest markets in the region. In October, Sphere Entertainment, the company behind the futuristic Sphere entertainment venue in Las Vegas, disclosed plans to expand this concept to Abu Dhabi.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism reported that the city attracted more than 24 million visitors in 2023.
Additionally, Universal Music Group formed a strategic partnership with a UAE organization called DGMC (Dubai Global Music City) last year to develop what they describe as the “First Musical City in the Middle East” in the UAE.
Music Nation Partners with SoundExchange to collect and distribute Neighboring Rights in the UAE
