Warner Music Launches Middle East Operations

Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced the launch of Warner Music Middle East, a new wholly owned recorded music affiliate covering 17 markets across the MENA region.

Warner Music Middle East will be based in Beirut and be headed by managing director, Moe Hamzeh, who joins WMG from the Beirut-based video streaming platform, m.media. He will report to Chris Ancliff, WMG’S executive vice-president, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Hamzeh says in a statement, “We can now reach and draw in huge number of fans across the region, enabling us to develop careers for local talent, as well as creating new opportunities for our established artists.”

The new operation will step-up the marketing and promotion of WMG’S international artists, as well as growing a local roster of Arabic artists and repertoire. The company will also look to expand the digital distribution of its artists’ music and cultivate local brand partnerships.