Music Nation, the United Arab Emirates’ new music rights management organization, has officially begun operations, marking a significant step forward for the country’s creative economy.
Founded and chaired by Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, Music Nation aims to simplify music licensing and ensure timely royalty payments for UAE-based artists and rights holders. The organization will manage public performance and mechanical rights in partnership with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), while SoundExchange will provide support on neighboring rights administration, creating a unified system for licensing, collection, and royalty distribution.
As part of its launch, Music Nation named Amer M. Samhoun as Chief Executive Officer, James K. Petrie as Chief Operating Officer, and Ali Dee as Chief Creative Officer. The team will operate from offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“Today marks the start of a new era for artists in the UAE,” said Al Mubarak, highlighting the platform’s focus on transparency, technology, and efficiency. Samhoun added that the organization’s “artist-first mentality” and partnerships with global music databases will reduce unmatched royalties and speed up payments.
BMI President & CEO Michael O’Neill praised the collaboration, describing it as “a major step forward in building a transparent music rights ecosystem in the UAE.” SoundExchange President & CEO Michael Huppe echoed the sentiment, noting the partnership’s goal to ensure that artists “are properly compensated for the value their music creates.”
With this launch, Music Nation becomes the region’s first organization to combine streamlined licensing, transparent reporting, and multilingual education for both businesses and artists, setting a new standard for music rights management in the Middle East.
