Reservoir Media, in conjunction with PopArabia, has announced two new acquisitions to expand the companies’ share of music from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The companies acquired all compositions and masters owned by Iraqi music production house HFM Production. In addition, Reservoir and PopArabia announced the acquisition of publishing and recorded rights for the catalogue of Kuwaiti artist Essa Almarzoug.
Founded in 2011 by Iraqi composer Humam Hassan, HFM Production built a reputation specialising in media production, ranging from music videos to TV commercials.
HFM has since established its own record label and frontline release team, producing over 500 recordings and YouTube videos by artists from Iraq and the broader Arabic world. Some of their top artists include Ahmed Al Maslawi, Zaid Al Rashed, Ahmed Fadel and Salma Rachid.
The HFM YouTube channel has accumulated more than 3.1 million subscribers and nearly 1.4 billion views. The deal with Reservoir and PopArabia includes a number of forthcoming new releases by HFM scheduled for the next year.
HFM Production founder and general manager Humam Hassan said: “With the network and expertise of Reservoir and PopArabia, I am excited to see how they can further the reach and impact of HFM’s catalogue on a global scale. We look forward to highlighting our talent and amplifying their voices to even wider audiences.”
Singer-songwriter Essa Almarzoug has emerged as one of the most popular Kuwaiti stars, with a fandom stretching across the Gulf and MENA. He first rose to fame in 2013 with an appearance on Star Academy 9, a popular musical reality TV franchise in MENA.
Since then, he has featured in several films and theatrical productions, while also focusing on his career as a solo artist. Almarzoug’s music has garnered over 619 million views on YouTube to date, including his breakout hits, such as Qanabel, Thamen Ageba and Akher Hebah.
Essa Almarzoug said: “I am excited to partner with PopArabia and Reservoir in this next chapter of my career. I look forward to bringing Khaleeji pop music to the world with the support of a team who shares my passion and vision.”
According to a statement, the two deals demonstrate Reservoir and PopArabia’s commitment to investing in the MENA region and building a regional platform for Arabic music.
Wissam Khodur, vice president of A&R and acquisitions at PopArabia, said: “PopArabia and Reservoir continue to deepen our roots across MENA with key acquisitions of influential Arabic music, such as the Iraqi HFM Production catalog and Kuwait’s Essa Almarzoug’s catalog. HFM and Essa have demonstrated an ability to create quality music that resonates with fans not only from their home countries, but also across the region. Our team is excited to grow our portfolio with these diverse catalogs, while providing support to expand their reach to more of the Gulf and beyond.”
PHOTO: Vice President of A&R and Acquisitions at PopArabia Wissam Khodur and HFM production Founder Humam Hassan
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