MENA music business, daily — reporting on labels, publishing, live, rights and the deals behind the region's music economy.
Opinion and essays — not news reporting
As AI tools automate music-making, artists risk converging toward sonic mediocrity rather than the inventive friction that defined classic recordings.
Spek (Substack)Western-raised diaspora artists risk performing ethnicity as aesthetic rather than authentically exploring cultural identity through their work.
Spek (Substack)As emerging markets capture 75% of new streaming users by 2035, Western cultural gatekeepers are increasingly mining non-Western talent and sounds, reversing centuries of one-directional cultural flow.
Spek (Substack)Social media platforms and streaming services are dismantling traditional gatekeeping, enabling Arab artists to reach global audiences independently.
WDETIndustry leaders argue that waiting for ideal conditions in emerging markets delays growth that imperfect action can already deliver.
Music AllyA veteran music publisher explains his relocation from New York to the Gulf to capitalize on MENA's explosive growth and untapped publishing potential.
Music Business Worldwide