Sony Music Middle East and Anghami to launch new Arabian label

The label will aim to support independent Arabic artists in parts of the Middle East and North Africa region including Saudi Arabia, some Levant countries, and the wider Gulf Cooperative Council. Sony said the stable would also act as a “creative, accelerator and educational hub to empower musicians, songwriters, producers and content creators to tell their stories regionally and globally”.

“Through Vibe Music Arabia, artists, songwriters and producers will have access to a range of opportunities to build their brand and reach in the Middle East, as the new label combines Anghami’s unique local insights, rich data and networks with Sony Music Entertainment’s global reach and expertise.”

Rami Zeidan, whose previous role was head of TikTok MENA’s video and creative division, will be at the helm of the new label as general manager. The exec boasts more than 15 years’ experience in music, entertainment and cultural marketing.

“At Vibe, our approach is simple, to be a creative and enabling hub, and to build a dialogue within the community to teach, learn and help young talent grow,” Zeidan said. “I am feeling super inspired by the region’s enabling ecosystem and the young talent that is coming from every corner. With the impact of digital streaming on the rise, our commitment is to foster this talent, and work hand in hand towards shaping a new era for Arabic music.”

Vibe Music Arabia will be working with artists such as emerging Saudi Arabian musician Zena Emad, who is expected to release her new single soon, as well as khaleeji producer Abdulaziz Louise, whose collaborative hit ‘Bravo Aleih’ has amassed more than 90 million views and 200 million streams across platforms.

Sony's president of corporate strategy and market development in Asia and Middle East, Shridhar Subramaniam, said: “We believe the creative, community-first leadership team led by Rami and his team are perfectly placed to nurture and develop more artist stories and music and I wish him all the best as he leads this new, independent label in one of the fastest-growing regions.”

Anghami co-founder and CEO Eddy Maroun said: “At Anghami, we are proud of our deep-rooted Arabic origins. We see so many talented artists and songs emerge daily from this region and believe there is a real opportunity for a boutique label to foster these fast-growing music communities and help develop their craft.