“Our goal at BPG/Warner is to discover, mentor, and grow the next generation of musical and cultural innovators and disruptors,” said Roberson and Nelson in a statement. “We want to use our knowledge and experience to help them navigate the process and take their careers to the next level, while maintaining their creative and business independence.”
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Gee and Jean on this forward-thinking partnership,” added Warner Records co-chairman & CEO
Aaron Bay-Schuck and co-chairman & COO
Tom Corson. “They’re bringing their brilliant A&R minds and industry expertise to a unique portal that champions artistic freedom. This fresh business model charts new territory in the relationship between original talent and the major label ecosphere. They’ve already brought us two amazing artists in Erica Banks and David Sabastian, with whom we have very different, specially tailored deals, and we’re looking forward to collaborating on many more
Rotana has signed on some of the Arab world s biggest music artists including Egyptian mega-star Amr Diab, Saudi Arabia s Mohamad Abdo and Lebanon s Elissa.
In 2018, Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Company and Rotana Group invested $266.7 million in music streaming service Deezer in a private placement that valued the company at around $1.10 billion, analysts said at the time. Alongside the deal, Rotana and Deezer also signed an exclusive long-term agreement to distribute the music company’s Arabic digital audio and video content across the region. The Middle East and North Africa region is among the most culturally dynamic places in the world today, with burgeoning musical scenes and dramatic consumption growth, Simon Robson, WMG’s president of international and recorded music, said. We’re especially excited about the opportunity to both expand our profile in the region and to bring these amazing artists to audiences across the globe.”
Music Business Worldwide
February 16, 2021
Syrian singer, George Wassouf, signed to Rotana.
Warner Music Group (WMG) has made an investment in Saudi Arabia’s Rotana Group-owned Rotana Music, which is claimed to be the largest record label in the Middle East.
The deal – believed to be an eight-figure acquisition for a minority stake – will expand WMG’s presence in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region.
On Tuesday January 26, citing people familiar with the matter, the
Wall Street Journal reported that WMG was close to sealing a deal for a minority stake in Rotana Music that would value the Saudi company “at close to $200 million”.
Warner Music Group Invests in Saudi Arabian Label Rotana
Jem Aswad, provided by
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Warner Music Group has announced an investment in the Arab world’s largest independent record label, Rotana Music, which is part of Rotana Group, widely considered the largest entertainment company in the region. According to the announcement, “the deal will expand WMG’s presence in the rapidly growing Middle East and North African region, while driving cross-cultural opportunities for the label’s renowned repertoire.”
Owned by Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, the company is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with branches in Jeddah, Dubai, Kuwait City, Beirut, and Cairo.