Reservoir Media, in conjunction with PopArabia, has made two new acquisitions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The companies revealed on Monday (October 27) that they have acquired all compositions and masters owned by Iraqi music production house HFM Production.
In addition, Reservoir and PopArabia have acquired the publishing and recorded music rights for the catalog of Kuwaiti artist Essa Almarzoug.
Founded in 2011 by Iraqi composer Humam Hassan, Reservoir noted that HFM Production built a reputation specializing in media production, spanning 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 the company’s top artists include Ahmed Al Maslawi, Zaid Al Rashed, Ahmed Fadel, and Salma Rachid. The HFM YouTube channel has accumulated over 3.1 million subscribers and nearly 1.4 billion views. The deal with Reservoir and PopArabia includes several forthcoming new releases by HFM, scheduled for release over the next year.
Meanwhile, Reservoir noted that singer-songwriter Essa Almarzoug is “known for blending traditional Khaleeji melodies with modern Arabic pop” and 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.
According to Reservoir, the two deals demonstrate it and PopArabia’s “continuous commitment to investing in the MENA region and building a regional platform for Arabic music”.
Reservoir Founder and CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi has previously declared her intention to make the music rights company “the largest holder of Arabic music copyrights.”
“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 catalog on a global scale.”
Humam Hassan, HFM Production
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 catalog on a global scale. We look forward to highlighting our talent and amplifying their voices to even wider audiences.”
“I look forward to bringing Khaleeji pop music to the world with the support of a team who shares my passion and vision.”
Essa Almarzoug
On the deal, Almarzoug added: “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.”
“PopArabia and Reservoir continue to deepen our roots across MENA with key acquisitions of influential Arabic music.”
Wissam Khodur, PopArabia
Vice President of A&R and Acquisitions at PopArabia Wissam Khodur, 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.”
In March, Reservoir and PopArabia acquired the catalog of Egyptian star Omar Kamal.
In May 2022, Reservoir and PopArabia acquired Egyptian label 100COPIES and formed a joint venture with the company to sign and develop Egyptian talent.
And, in June 2023, Reservoir and Poparabia acquired the catalog of, and struck a JV with, Saudi Arabia-based hip-hop label Mashrex.
Reservoir signed a JV with PopArabia in 2020. As part of the deal, PopArabia assumed the role of sub-publisher for all of Reservoir’s copyrights in the region, including collecting and distributing royalties and licensing music for sync.Music Business Worldwide