A new reciprocal agreement between SoundExchange and MusicNation creates a direct route for neighbouring-rights royalties to flow between the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
The partnership will allow SoundExchange artists and rights owners to collect royalties when their recordings are played in the UAE, while Emirati creators and rights holders will be represented when their music is used in the US.
It expands an existing relationship through which SoundExchange provides MusicNation with technology, data and industry expertise to support neighbouring-rights administration in the UAE.
This groundbreaking reciprocal agreement with Music Nation will open a new revenue stream for SoundExchange artists and rights owners whose music is played in the UAE while ensuring Emirati creators are compensated when their music is played in the United States. – Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange
The arrangement also gives SoundExchange’s international collective management organisation partners the option to collect UAE royalties through their existing agreements with the company.
Building the UAE’s royalty infrastructure
MusicNation is developing licensing, royalty collection and distribution systems across neighbouring rights, public-performance rights and mechanical rights. Its partnerships with SoundExchange and BMI connect that emerging infrastructure with established international rights networks.
The agreement comes as the UAE expands its music, entertainment, hospitality and cultural sectors, increasing the need for systems that can identify commercial music use and direct payments to the correct creators and rights owners.
This agreement with SoundExchange represents a national and industry milestone, advancing MusicNation’s mission to create a transparent, globally connected music rights ecosystem in the UAE. – Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairwoman of MusicNation
MusicNation CEO Amer M. Samhoun added that the reciprocal framework should give international CMOs and rights partners greater confidence when operating in the UAE.
SoundExchange currently maintains more than 100 agreements with collective management organisations, covering a reported 93% of the available global neighbouring-rights market.
For artists and labels, the agreement strengthens cross-border royalty collection while connecting the UAE more closely with the global rights economy.