press releases

PopArabia, the leading music publishing and music rights consultancy for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has secured an exclusive licensing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the world’s largest music publishing company with over 2 million copyrights.

PopArabia will now be able to license the full Sony/ATV catalogue for synchronization, digital and online usage as well as for all other uses related to music publishing rights for some of the world’s best known songs. Sony/ATV’s catalogue includes global hits from artists such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Queen, Lady Gaga, Sting, Kanye West and Amy Winehouse in addition to iconic film catalogues from the likes of Sony Pictures, Paramount, MGM, including the James Bond theme, the theme from Mission: Impossible and the great MGM musicals.

Hussain Spek Yoosuf, who founded PopArabia with the support of twofour54, commented: “With revenues generated from the legal use of music and respect for copyrights, we put in place the building blocks for a thriving regional industry for songwriters and composers. As the UAE continues to grow as an entertainment center, this has a net positive effect on not just the music business – but the media and entertainment industry at large. Promoting best practices to protect revenues of creative works is vital for the healthy growth of the industry in the region.”

Guy Henderson, executive vice-president-international of Sony/ATV, commented: “We are delighted to work with PopArabia to ensure the exposure of our writers and catalogues in the MENA region. With a young and fast growing population, there are now more people listening to music in the MENA region than ever before, creating an exciting future for the music industry. Our partnership with PopArabia demonstrates our commitment to a vibrant music industry in the region and to help develop the MENA market. We look forward to working closely with PopArabia as we develop new opportunities for our writers in the region.”

As a twofour54 portfolio company based out of the organization’s Abu Dhabi campus, PopArabia licenses and represents Universal Music Publishing Group, Imagem Music Group, Peer Music, Cooking Vinyl, the Universal Publishing Production Music library and works with US music specialists Jingle Punks.

The addition of the Sony/ATV catalogue means PopArabia now controls the majority of all music released globally within the MENA region, driving the development of a sustainable commercial music industry in the Arab world by monetizing international and regional rights for music used in TV commercials, advertising campaigns, corporate videos, feature films and for other media platforms. It will protect the rights of local and international artists and ensure that international publishing businesses, such as Sony/ATV, can realise their potential in the MENA market.

PopArabia’s combined catalogue and range of services offers MENA-based advertising agencies, broadcasters, filmmakers, and other music users easy and transparent access to music, whether this means licensing current pop hits, to lesser known songs, library music or commissioning original compositions. PopArabia has also worked as music supervisors on numerous advertising campaigns, feature film and television projects and as consultants for regional music platforms.

Back to news press listing