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Sony Music Publishing, the world’s largest music publisher, is expanding its operations across the Middle East and North Africa with a new office in Dubai. The region will be led by managing director Dounia Chaaban, who will report to SMP senior vp of international Dan Nelson.
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Chaaban began her career at Anghami, the leading music streamer in the Middle East. After working there for seven years, serving as the Arabic indie community lead, Chaaban then became an artist relations manager at Believe Music. “I look forward to working hand in hand with the incredibly talented team at Sony Music Publishing to propel the MENA music industry to new heights,” says Chaaban of her new appointment. “Together, we will create an environment that nurtures creativity, fosters innovation, and unlocks the boundless potential of the region’s musical landscape.”
The news arrives just a day after Universal Music Group announced the opening of a new Capitol Studios location in the UAE as part of a collaboration with DGMC, a local music organization. The two say they will work together to build a “Music City” that will serve as a regional hub for local and global recording artists and songwriters in the MENA region.
Other music companies have also expanded more into the MENA region in the last year. In October, Warner Music announced its investment in HuManagement, a Dubai-based talent agency; In the last twelve months, Reservoir Media joined with PopArabia to acquire Lebanese music company Voice of Beirut, Egyptian label 100COPIES, and Saudi Arabian label Mashrex; In May, BMI partnered with Music Nation, a UAE music rights management organization.
Billboard also expanded into the region with the launch of Billboard Arabia in June. A partnership with media giant SRMG, Billboard Arabia is a region-specific editorial site, featuing two new global charts to track the success of music from the MENA region.
Nelson says: “We are excited to welcome Dounia to the Sony Music Publishing team. Dounia’s extensive experience working with local talent will be invaluable as we expand opportunities for new and established songwriters and artists across the region. There couldn’t be a more opportune moment to launch our business, and we look forward to growing our presence in the MENA region.”
Universal Music Group is poised to open its first Capitol Studios outside of Hollywood, plus live performance spaces, music education academies and a new record label, as part of a collaboration with DGMC in the burgeoning music hub of the United Arab Emirates. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts […]
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Ye aka Kanye West performed a new song over the weekend in Dubai, which has earned him the ire of Jewish groups citing his degrading and antisemitic lyrics.
Ye was spotted in Dubai taking the stage during a show featuring Lil Durk at BLU Dubai nightclub Sunday (Nov. 26) where he was joined by Ty Dolla $ign. The trio then performed a new song featuring Ye called “Vultures.” The club had posted clips of the performance through its Instagram Stories, with one featuring the rapper saying, “How I’m antisemitic? I just f*cked a Jewish b*tch.”
That line sparked outrage online, with Jewish advocacy groups leading the charge against the controversial rapper. “At a time of rising antisemitism worldwide, it’s disgusting to see Kanye once again use his platform to spew Jew-hatred,” a spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League said to a representative for TMZ.
“To fuel the flames of antisemitism and promote such bile to his millions of followers, especially at this fraught and dangerous time for the Jewish community, is unforgivable,” said Richard Hirschhaut, a spokesperson for the American Jewish Committee, adding that while this isn’t new behavior for Kanye West, this time around “seems particularly pathetic and sad.”
According to reports, “Vultures” (which apparently is Ye’s first official release since July of last year) was first aired to the public on Chicago radio station Power 92 on Nov. 17. The song hasn’t made it to streaming platforms yet. The controversy over the lyric adds to the bevy of antisemitic remarks that Ye has engaged in ever since making a post on X, formerly Twitter, last October.
That led to the “Father Stretch My Hands” rapper being kicked off the platform (he would be reinstated after Elon Musk bought the company), having his deals with adidas and Gap terminated and costing him his billionaire status. It only got worse in December when he appeared on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars show and praised Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
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Source: Mason Poole/Parkwood Media / Getty / Beyonce
Beyoncé is gearing up for her upcoming Renaissance world tour and gave guests a taste of what fans worldwide can expect when she takes the stage.
Over the weekend, the Beyhive was buzzing as word spread about a private concert featuring Beyoncé going down in Dubai.
Word on the street to get Beyoncé got coins to perform at the invite-only concert that was part of the Atlantis the Royal hotel’s unofficial opening.
Per The Cut’s reporting, there was an Ivy Park fashion lounge by the pool on top of a star-studded guest list. Guests included new Black Panther, Letitia Wright, her Wakanda Forever co-star Winston Duke, Kendall Jenner, Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Ellen Pompeo, Rebel Wilson, and of course, JAY-Z was on hand to witness greatness.
The private concert across the globe had a strict no-phones policy, and guests had to put their phones in pouches.
But, of course, no one follows the rules, and plenty of videos hit social media, much to the delight of Beyonce fans who were dying to see Queen Bey do her thing.
For her first concert performance in four years, Beyoncé pulled out all the stops based on the many circulating clips and photos.
Beyoncé Put On One Hell Of A Show
Entertainment Tonight reports the Houston native performed with Firdaus, a 48-person all-female orchestra, and the Mayyas, an all-female dance troupe, in front of the hotel’s massive fountain. Fatima Robinson took care of the choreography.
While she didn’t perform any songs from her latest album, and understandably so, being that she is in Dubai’s stringent rules, the setlist from the night included her hits such as “Naughty Girl,” “Crazy In Love,” “Brown Skin Girl” with some help from Blue Ivy and “Drunk In Love.”
Despite her long break, Beyoncé hasn’t missed a single beat. We hope you are ready to get your wigs snatched when she officially goes on tour.
You can see all the reactions to her show in the gallery below.
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Photo: Mason Poole/Parkwood Media / Getty
1. Gotta love Blue
2. Well damn
Grammy Award-winning DJ and producer Tiësto joined forces with multiplatinum singer-songwriter Tate McRae and Dubai’s new ultra-luxury resort Atlantis The Royal to create their new single “10:35.” The song is accompanied by a music video highlighting the new high-end destination, and will appear on Tiësto’s upcoming album Drive, due out Feb. 24 via Atlantic Records.
“I’m very excited to be partnering with this iconic new property,” said Tiësto. “Tate and I wanted to create a song that captured the energy of an experience at Atlantis The Royal, and I’m proud to say the feeling of 10:35 and this property are both infectious! So excited for the world to finally hear it.”
“I’m happy to announce I’m doing a partnership with the Atlantis The Royal property in Dubai with Tiësto,” added McRae. “It’s always exciting to branch out and work with different brands and artists,” added McRae. “The music video is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and the hotel is just unreal.”
Encapsulating the essence of Atlantis The Royal, “10:35” is inspired by Dubai’s newest addition to its skyline. When first introduced to the resort’s architectural plans — the resort was designed by NYC’s Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates — Tiësto honed in on the duality of the daytime experience of luxury versus the nighttime’s focus on entertainment. This juxtaposition fueled the idea for the time where day turns to night and the experience that comes with that shift — hence, “10:35.”
McRae, who spent time growing up in the Middle East, proved a perfect partner for the track.
Slated to open in early 2023, Atlantis The Royal is 43 stories at its highest point and boasts nearly 800 rooms, dozens of pools, multiple celebrity chef-led restaurants and a skybridge connecting the two main sections of the resort.
Atlantis The Royal Dubai
Courtesy Photo
“We are beyond excited that Tiësto, a music icon, and Tate McRae, one of today’s hottest stars, have joined forces to create this incredible track to celebrate Atlantis The Royal,” said Tim Kelly, managing director of Atlantis Dubai. “’10:35′ completely captures the vibe and energy of the hotel and expresses the unmatched daytime and night-time experience we have to offer. Shooting the music video at the resort is a show stopping way for us to tease our guests and demonstrate the unrivaled luxury Atlantis The Royal promises ahead of the Grand Reveal in January. This is it.”
“The whole team at Atlantis The Royal have been a pleasure to work with throughout this campaign and Atlantic Records couldn’t be more grateful for their partnership,” added Jonathan Feldman, svp of brand partnerships and sports marketing at Atlantic Records. “Tiësto and Tate McRae created such an incredible song that aligns perfectly with the property. From start to finish the stars have aligned on this and we’re thrilled for the launch of “10:35′.”
Check out the music video for “10:35” below.
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