SoundExchange and UAE's MusicNation Sign Reciprocal Royalty
SoundExchange and Music Nation Copyrights Management have signed a reciprocal agreement for neighboring rights between the US and UAE, announced September
SoundExchange has signed a reciprocal agreement with Music Nation Copyrights Management (MusicNation) for neighboring rights between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The deal, announced on Thursday, September 17, means US artists and rights owners registered with SoundExchange will be paid when their recordings are played in the UAE, while Emirati creators will receive compensation for plays in the US.
This agreement also opens the UAE market to some of the collective management organizations (CMOs) that partner with SoundExchange. These international CMOs now have the option to collect Emirati royalties through their existing agreements with the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit.
Leadership Statements
SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe called the pact a "groundbreaking reciprocal agreement." He stated it opens a new revenue stream for SoundExchange artists and rights owners while ensuring Emirati creators are compensated for US plays. Huppe added that it enables SoundExchange to seamlessly provide these services for partner CMOs globally.
MusicNation Chairwoman Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak said music is a powerful expression of identity and culture. As the UAE continues to develop and attract foreign investment into its creative economy, we have a responsibility to build the systems that ensure artists and rights holders are respected, she said, noting the agreement advances the mission for a transparent, globally connected music rights ecosystem in the UAE.
CEO Amer M. Samhoun said the agreement marks a key step in MusicNation's international role as the UAE's music rights infrastructure expands. He said it gives international partners confidence they can work with MusicNation through a transparent system in one of the region's fastest-growing creative markets.
The UAE's Emerging Rights Landscape
The UAE is a recent addition to the map of collectible markets for music royalties. The country's Ministry of Economy issued its first collective management license only in April 2025, to the Emirates Music Rights Association (EMRA). MusicNation received its own permit two months later, in June 2025, and began operations that October.
The government framed EMRA's license as part of its 'Vision 2031' program, aiming to turn the country into a creative hub. Government figures published alongside the license showed cultural and creative industries were worth 3.5% of UAE GDP in 2022, equating to 54.4 billion dirhams (USD $14.8 billion).
Foreign rights societies have since entered the market. France's Sacem signed a representation agreement with EMRA in February. Abu Dhabi-based ESMAA, launched by PopArabia in 2020, represents societies including Canada's SOCAN and the UK's PRS For Music.
Regional Growth and SoundExchange's Reach
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is experiencing rapid growth in recorded music. According to IFPI, revenues grew 15.2% year-on-year in 2025, making it the joint second-fastest-growing region globally. This follows 22.8% growth in 2024, when MENA was the fastest-growing region. Streaming generated 97.5% of the region's recorded music revenues last year.
The UAE deal follows other recent reciprocal agreements by SoundExchange. One with Argentina's CAPIF was signed in May, and a deal with the South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA) in November 2024 allowed US performers to collect neighboring rights royalties from South Africa for the first time.
SoundExchange describes itself as the world's largest neighboring rights organization. It reports holding more than 100 agreements with CMOs, covering 93% of what it calls the available global neighboring rights market. Nearly 600,000 artists and rights owners use it to collect royalties internationally, and it has distributed over USD $13 billion in digital performance royalties to date.
Its annual distributions fell in 2025 to an unaudited USD $991.5 million, down 5.9% from just over USD $1.05 billion in 2024. SoundExchange cited fewer settlements, a decline in reported SiriusXM revenue, and cumulative underpayment behind a lawsuit against the satellite broadcaster. That case was dismissed in August last year, but SoundExchange is appealing and alleges SiriusXM underpaid by more than USD $400 million.
