Music Nation and SoundExchange Partner to Streamline Rights Management in UAE

SoundExchange has partnered with Music Nation Copyrights Management, a leading music rights organization in the United Arab Emirates, as part of new efforts to ensure fair compensation for sound recording owners, producers and artists when their music is publicly performed across the UAE’s music industry.

This collaboration, announced Wednesday (March 26), will enable Music Nation to leverage SoundExchange’s technology and data in order to collect and distribute neighboring rights royalties in the UAE. The UAE’s first comprehensive rights management system will streamline the collection of performance, mechanical and neighboring rights royalties, providing a single solution for music rightsholders, the companies said in a joint announcement.

Music Nation plays a key role in the UAE’s evolving copyright landscape by licensing the rights of authors, publishers, performers and sound recording owners. With partnerships like those with BMI and SoundExchange, Music Nation is advancing the country’s efforts to protect musical copyrights through a comprehensive licensing and royalty distribution infrastructure.

The partnership builds on Music Nation’s existing collaboration with BMI, the U.S. performing rights organization, further ensuring that local and international artists, songwriters, publishers, and record labels are compensated for the use of their work in the UAE. The timing aligns with the region’s rapid music industry growth, as IFPI recently reported a 22.8% increase in recorded music revenue in MENA in 2024, marking it as the fastest-growing music market globally.

Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairwoman of Music Nation, expressed excitement about the partnership, saying “by comprehensively and accurately collecting and distributing neighboring rights royalties, Music Nation will help ensure the continued growth of the region’s vibrant music ecosystem.” 

Michael Huppe, president and CEO of SoundExchange, added: “Our in-depth administration expertise, proven record on rate settings, and premiere distribution processes for international creators will provide capabilities to propel the emerging UAE market. SoundExchange is proud to partner with Music Nation on this exciting project, and to help the Emirati creator community realize the true power and value of their music.”