Elyanna Joins FIFA World Cup 2026 Soundtrack in Historic Milestone
Palestinian-Chilean star Elyanna continues her global rise after being selected for an official song on the soundtrack of the FIFA World Cup 2026 . The 24-year-old artist joins Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez on the track “Illuminate,” a powerful fusion of alternative R&B, Arabic melodies and international pop influences. Produced by Grammy-winning producer Cirkut , the song highlights themes of identity, resilience and cultural unity. “Illuminate” blends Elyanna’s Arabic vocals and Latin-inspired sound with Reyez’s emotional de…
Anghami Partners with Cyanite to Bring AI-Powered Music Discovery to the MENA Region
Abu Dhabi / Berlin — Anghami, the leading music streaming platform in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced a new partnership with Cyanite , a company specializing in AI-powered music analysis and metadata generation. Through this collaboration, 2.5 million songs from Anghami’s catalog will be enriched with AI-generated metadata , helping improve music discovery and recommendation across the platform. AI Meets One of the World’s Richest Music Catalogs What makes this partnership particularly significant is the cultural context of A…
Sacem and EMRA Forge Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Music Rights Management in the UAE
French royalty collection society Sacem has entered into a major representation agreement with the Emirates Arts & Music Rights Association (EMRA), marking a significant milestone for music rights management in the United Arab Emirates. EMRA became the first organization in the UAE to receive an official collective management license in April of last year, enabling it to legally collect and distribute royalties on behalf of music creators. The new collaboration with Sacem is being positioned as a transformative step toward building a struc…
From the Underground to the Algorithm: How MENA Artists Are Navigating the Streaming Era
Streaming, Visibility, and the New Reality for Artists in MENA In Morocco’s crowded rap scene, artists are finding new ways to stand out—not only through their music, but through how they navigate digital platforms. One standout is Valerieblud , a rapper from the eastern city of Oujda. His emotional trap music and soft-spoken delivery have helped him rise from the underground to a growing international audience. His rise reflects a broader shift across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where music careers are increasingly shaped by st…
Spotlight on the Builders: Billboard Arabia's 2025 MENA Music Power Players
In a defining moment for the Middle East and North Africa's cultural landscape, Billboard Arabia unveils its exclusive new list, celebrating the visionary leaders shaping the future of Arabic music. This inaugural feature honors the industry's pivotal "power players"—the executives, companies, and creators working behind the scenes to build a modern, globally competitive music sector from the ground up. This year's Billboard Arabia list spotlights 47 influential entities driving a fundamental transformation. Behind every …
