Warner Strikes Licensing Deal With Middle Eastern Music Streaming Service

(CelebrityAccess) — Warner Music Group has struck a licensing deal to provide music from their catalog to Anghami, the largest streaming service in the Middle East and North Africa.

Previously, music from WMG's material was available through an affiliate deal that included Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and nearby territories. WMG's new direct deal will extend their representation into the North African countries of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Anghami boasts 50 million users and similarly to Spotify, offers on demand music and video to its users, either via a subscription plan, or through 'freemium' ad-supported streaming.

“In order to create global opportunities for artists, it’s imperative that we have a strong network of local partnerships around the world,” said Ole Obermann, Chief Digital Officer, Warner Music Group. “We’re seeing a huge demand for music streaming in the Middle East and North Africa, and Anghami has a beautiful product that super-serves its users there with both local and international music and videos. I’m looking forward to working with Eddy [Anghami's Co-founder Eddy Maroun] and his team to break artists across the region."