Middle East and North Africa is fastest-growing music market, report says

Strong releases by popular and talented artists in the region has helped increase revenue, industry chief suggests

Egyptian singer Tamer Ashour, one of the region's many popular artists, scored a massive hit in 2024 with Haygely Mawgow3. Tamer Ashour / Instagram

The Middle East and North Africa is the fastest-growing region for music revenue, according to an industry report.

Revenues across Mena increased by 22.8 per cent last year, making it the fastest-growing music region in the world. Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America were not far behind, recording revenue growth of 22.6 per cent and 22.5 per cent respectively.

The figures have been published by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in its Global Music Report 2025. The global organisation represents the interests of the recording industry, including major record labels.

The Mena region previously led global growth in 2021 with a 35 per cent increase in revenue. IFPI regional director Rawan Dabbas attributes the latest growth figures to the sustained popularity of Arabic music.

“There are several factors at play, mainly related to streaming. Subscription streaming – particularly paid accounts – has increased, along with ad-supported audio streaming in the region,” she told The National. “When you combine that with consistently strong releases from talented and popular artists, it explains the growth we’re seeing.”

Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco are examples of this growth, Dabbas added. She highlights efforts made in Saudi Arabia, including the inaugural Riyadh Music Week; a series of regionally-focused trade conferences; and Soundstorm festival. Meanwhile, Egypt and Morocco continue to lead the way with trendsetting releases from local artists, she added.

Revenue from recorded music grew in all these regions in 2024

The establishment of four new regional charts by IFPI in 2023 – the Official Egypt Chart, Official Saudi Arabia Chart, Official UAE Chart and Official North Africa Chart (covering Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) – which use streaming data from all major platforms, has provided additional insight into consumption in the region.

Of the 10 most-played songs in Mena highlighted in the Global Music Report 2025, seven tracks were by regional artists. These include Haygely Mawgow3 by Egypt’s Tamer Ashour and Saudi singer Ayed’s hit Lammah.

“It highlights Mena’s incredible domestic talent and the strong connection between regional artists and local audiences, driven by increasing engagement with home-grown music,” Dabbas added. “This is further supported by investments from international labels, fuelled by the region’s booming music market, cultural and government backing; and untapped revenue potential.”

Looking ahead, IFPI’s focus in Mena will be copyright protection and fair compensation for artists.

“This includes strengthening public performance and broadcast rights to ensure artists are properly compensated when their music is played in commercial spaces and on air,” Dabbas explained. “We are also focused on establishing the right chart frameworks to celebrate and promote their work, providing accurate and transparent data that reflects music consumption in the region.

“By working closely with industry stakeholders, we aim to create a sustainable ecosystem where Mena artists can thrive, grow their audiences, and build lasting careers in music.”