Middle East and North Africa (MENA) music streaming service Anghami and Arabic record label Rotana Music have renewed and expanded their existing partnership to include live concerts and artist collaborations.
The latest deal builds on a partnership between the two companies that has existed since 2012. In April 2022, they strengthened their alliance by signing a strategic agreement that saw Rotana’s content being made available on Anghami’s platform globally.
Anghami and Rotana Music announced on Tuesday (March 12) they had extended their partnership for three more years, allowing for an expanded range of releases and collaborations across various content.
“We are excited to renew and broaden our partnership with Rotana, reaffirming our dedication to offering users content and experiences. This three-year agreement highlights our shared vision to continuously elevate the Arabic music landscape and offer unique opportunities to both artists and fans,” said Eddy Maroun, Co-Founder & CEO of Anghami.
“This three-year agreement highlights our shared vision to continuously elevate the Arabic music landscape and offer unique opportunities to both artists and fans.”
Eddy Maroun, Anghami
The new agreement breaks away from the traditional licensing model, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. While Anghami retains access to Rotana’s vast Arabic music catalog, the partnership extends into live concerts and artist collaborations.
“Rotana has always been a pioneer in its field to serve and delight the Saudi, Gulf, and Arab audiences with whom we have built over the years a bridge of trust and appreciation in order for them to acquire excellence from Rotana in everything they seek,” said Salem al-Hindi, CEO of Rotana Music.
“To achieve this in the music and entertainment industry, keeping pace with market changes and expanding the circle of creativity and innovation, and after cooperation with the Anghami platform that yielded positive results, we are pleased to renew this partnership, which will also contribute to consolidating the strong relationship between Rotana and its artists. We are all confident that what is coming between Rotana and Anghami will help expand our presence by delivering Rotana music to listeners worldwide.”
“Rotana has always been a pioneer in its field to serve and delight the Saudi, Gulf, and Arab audiences with whom we have built over the years a bridge of trust and appreciation in order for them to acquire excellence from Rotana in everything they seek.”
Salem al-Hindi, Rotana Music
Anghami boasts a streaming catalog exceeding 100 million songs. The platform offers content from Arabic labels, independent artists, and global distributors, catering to over 120 million registered users. Anghami also has partnerships with over 40 telecom companies to facilitate subscriptions and customer acquisitions, and with major music labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and the Merlin Network.
Abu Dhabi-headquartered Anghami has offices in Beirut, Dubai, Cairo, and Riyadh, and operates in 16 countries across MENA. In the third quarter of 2023, Anghami’s subscriber base grew 17% to 1.73 million.
Meanwhile, Riyadh-headquartered Rotana Music says it owns the largest Arabic music repertoire. Beyond music, Rotana is a media and entertainment company, producing and distributing content across various platforms. The company says it reaches over 500 million viewers and listeners worldwide through television, radio, and digital channels.
In February 2021, Warner Music bought a minority stake in Rotana Music in a deal that reportedly valued the Saudi firm “at close to $200 million.”
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