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expatimes · 4 years ago

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Arab music industry new target for global streaming giants

The Arab music industry - plagued by rampant piracy, free YouTube clips and dated channels - is the new target for global streaming giants intent on bringing the outmoded business into the digital era.

After their successes in Europe and the Americas, online platforms are looking to invest in emerging markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and capture their large populations of hyper-connected youth.

In a region plagued by political turmoil and economic crises, streaming giant Spotify is hoping to blow the dust off a Middle East business that has failed to keep up in a world of paid-for digital content.

“We arrived with a fully Arabic service, localized playlists and a local team,” Claudius Boller, Spotify's Middle East and Africa managing director, told AFP news agency. "We are only just getting started."

Palestinians in the West Bank town of Bethlehem cheer for Arab Idol contestant Yaacoub Shahin, who won the 2017 edition of the pan-Arab song contest [File: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP]

Global streaming revenues grew by 22.9 percent to $ 11.4bn in 2019, accounting for more than half of recorded music business for the first time, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

But after its heyday in the 1990s and 2000s, the Arab pop music industry has declined over the past decade in the upheaval that followed the Arab Spring anti-government uprisings.

Spotify, which launched in the Middle East in 2018, says it wants to change that by giving regional talent the opportunity for global exposure on its platform.

“We came to the region to introduce a service that is not just an addition to MENA but truly adds value by elevating regional music streaming,” Boller said.

“Today, Arabic music and artists are being showcased to the world and discovered through Spotify,” he added, citing a billboard in New York's Times Square that featured Egyptian actor and rapper Mohamed Ramadan.

Egyptain pop star Amr Diab performs in the coastal resort of Ain al-Sukhna, east of Cairo [File: Amro Maraghi/AFP]

International hip-hop is the most popular genre on Spotify in the region, but the most sought-after artists are all homegrown - including Kuwaiti rapper Queen G, Egypt's Marwan Moussa and Morocco's Stormy.

Boller said the Swedish music giant's growth in the Middle East has been “phenomenal”, but declined to give figures.

French streaming service Deezer took a bold approach in 2018 with the signing of an exclusive agreement with Rotana, the Arab world's largest record label, owned by businessman and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

But Rotana, founded in the 1980s and with little digital presence beyond YouTube and an outdated website, has been quickly losing momentum with the departure of many of its top artists.

At the time of the signing, Rotana's managing director Salem al-Hendi said there would undoubtedly be a “return of revenues”, but two years later, the company has failed to acquire notable new stars or increase production.

Neither Deezer nor Rotana responded to AFP's request for comment.

Palestinian Arab 'Idol', singer Mohammed Assaf performs during the 13th Mawazine Rhythms of the World music festival in Rabat [File: Youssef Boudlal/Reuters]

Pierre France, a researcher at the Orient Institut Beirut who studies the industry, said “mutual ignorance” makes cracking the Middle East a tall order.

“It is a fool's game because the Arab market is not very well-known,” he told AFP.

Some streaming services thought they were striking gold, only to realise they were dealing with an industry that is “aging”, “disorganised” and “lacking vision”, he said.

On the local side, there is “a fantasy” about tapping into the international market, but with little knowledge of what it wants to hear, he added.

Lebanese music streaming platform Anghami, which is popular in the Middle East thanks to its firm understanding of regional tastes and culture, said musicians and labels needed to embrace new technology and paid-for platforms.

“Most artists still prefer releasing their tracks on YouTube for free, rather than putting them behind a paywall,” said Arun Sajjan, Anghami head of licensing.

"There's a clear difference in how the free users listen to Arabic music more than the paid users across the region."

Anghami still depends on mobile operator subscribers to reach its paid users, as its customers are not comfortable with credit cards as a payment choice.

“The challenges we face are manifold - the region is constantly in turmoil, and users are still not ready to consider paying for premium services to listen to music,” he said.

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pub-maroctelecom · 7 years ago

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Bridging the Digital Divide in Africa : MAROC TELECOM GROUP

Understanding the trends of the telecommunications industry is a necessity for a successful transformation. The massive changes in the industry during the last decades have completely changed the rules and structures. The continuous innovation requirements with a stagnating market and changing value chains has become a huge challenge for telecommunications operator. Maroc Telecom has always been a leader in innovation to solve the pain points of the industry. In 1998 Maroc Telecom was founded after the separation of the National Office of Posts and Telecommunications (ONPT). And just after the inception, in the same year, it launched its prepaid offer “Jawal”. Being the first project, Jawal was supported by a major media campaign and was a great success. Today, Jawal is the first Moroccan mobile customer community with more than 18 million clients. Today Maroc Telecom is the leading global telecommunications company in the Kingdom of Morocco, operating in fixed-line and mobile telephony as well as in internet segments. Maroc Telecom Group is present in 10 countries over Africa: Morocco, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Gabon, Benin, Ivory Coast, Niger, the Central African Republic and Togo. The Group is one of the most performing and profitable of the sector.

Maroc Telecom, an African Operator

The international development of Maroc Telecom and its strategic positioning as a major player in the telecommunication sector in Africa, have promoted economic growth and development on this continent, in line with the South-South economic cooperation policy. As a result, the Group has succeeded in attracting and retaining more than 54 million clients who rely on its skills and the quality of its services.

The sustainable development policy which is regularly awarded by international organizations has been an integral part of Maroc Telecom Group’s culture and relies on four major issues.

The reduction of the digital divide whether in geographic or social terms, to make information and communication technologies accessible to everyone in every region.

The contribution to the social and economic development of the countries in which the Group operates.

The action for the well-being of people: the group respects the local culture, traditions and socio economic characteristics of the countries in which he operates.

The adoption of responsible behavior toward its stakeholders, by being completely transparent towards them.

A visionary operator

“Innovation is the key to success,” this saying fits Maroc Telecom perfectly. Innovation always stands in the center of Maroc Telecom Group’s strategy offering access to voice and Internet to as many people as possible with exemplary service quality. It also provides support to the digital revolution by introducing the latest technologies and services such as connected objects, digital content services, etc. The vision has always been about anticipating and supporting the growth of voice and data usage. And by introducing the latest technological innovations, Maroc Telecom has turned that vision into reality.

Maroc Telecom’s 4G + network is the most advanced version of the 4th generation mobile with a speed of up to 225 Mbps covering more than 86% of the population. Dedicated by the Ookla Speed Test, Maroc Telecom’s 4G was the “Best Mobile Telecom Network in Morocco” in 2016 and 2017.

The fiber optic up to the customer of Maroc Telecom offers speeds up to 200 Mbps and is available in all major cities of Morocco.

Maroc Telecom is the first global operator to have put on the market in 2017 a Broadband Internet Satellite VSAT offer. With full coverage of Moroccan territory, this mode of access to the Internet network via a satellite transmission has made it possible to benefit from a stable and efficient connection even in the most remote localities of Morocco.

Thanks to Wifi hotspots available in the main cities of the kingdom, Maroc Telecom also offers broadband internet in public spaces.

A customer centric policy

Committed to constantly meeting the expectations and needs of the customers, Maroc Telecom never fails to offer them the best technology. Thanks to considerable investments, Maroc Telecom Group has strengthened its infrastructure and deploys High-Speed Mobile Network. Building on the new generations of networks, it offers customers the maximum coverage with the best speeds and exemplary service quality on voice and data. It is not just technology, Maroc Telecom also offers its customers exclusive benefits throughout the year. Big Raffle is one of the best events held annually by Maroc Telecom which allow its clients to win prestigious prizes such as luxury cars or trips to attend the biggest sports events like El Classico and European Champions league. Maroc Telecom’s popularity has reached the top level and the way the company is creating love with its customers is absolutely priceless. And to strengthen its position and continue to offer its customers the best technology and service, the leading operator in Africa, Maroc Telecom Group will continue to invest and develop its infrastructure and know-how.

The Ingenious Man behind the Success

Mr. Abdeslam Ahizoune has a graduate degree in engineering from Paris Tech (1977). He has been Chairman of Maroc Telecom’s Management Board since February 2001 and was a member of Vivendi’s Management Board from April 2005 to June 2012. He has been Chairman of the Association of Moroccan Telecom Professionals (MATI) since 2008. Ahizoune served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Maroc Telecom from 1998 to 2001, he previously was Minister of Telecommunications in four governments, from 1992 to 1995 and from 1997 to 1998, while holding the position of Managing Director of the National Office of Post and Telecommunications (ONPT) from 1992 to 1997. From 1983 to 1992, he was Director of Telecommunications in the Ministry of Postal Services and Telecommunications. He has also been President of the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation since 2006, and President of the Maroc Cultures Association who organizes Mawazine festival, since 2015. “As the leading operator in Africa, Maroc Telecom Group will continue to invest and develop its infrastructure and know-how, to strengthen its position and continue to offer its customers the best technology and service.”

Via : http://thesiliconreview.com/magazines/bridging-the-digital-divide-in-africa-maroc-telecom-group/

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