curated by Italia Music Export SIAE

To those in the western music business the Middle East can appear to be an exotic maxi territory. Often left out of strategies by major Western music organisations and professionals who are concerned about language barriers, religious differences and dynamic political situations, it nonetheless harbours enormous potential. So what makes the Arabic/Middle Eastern music business so special and apparently difficult to break into? What are the most significant differences between the various countries and territories broadly defined as the Middle East? What do people listen to? What are interesting first steps for new and established artists? Where does revenue come from and how is this developing?