SoundExchange and MusicNation sign US-UAE royalty deal
American recordings played in the United Arab Emirates will now send money back to performers and record owners in the United States. Emirati recordings played in the US will earn in the other direction.
SoundExchange and Music Nation Copyrights Management, known as MusicNation, signed a reciprocal agreement covering the two markets, according to details reported by Music Business Worldwide. The organisations announced the deal on Thursday, September 17. The announcement was distributed from Washington, D.C.
The deal covers neighbouring rights, the royalties paid to recording artists and rights owners when a recording is broadcast or played in public. That is separate from the royalties paid to songwriters and publishers. In practice, it means radio plays, background music in businesses and similar uses can generate payments across borders.
SoundExchange-registered artists and rights owners will be paid when their recordings are used in the UAE. Emirati creators represented by MusicNation will be paid when their music is used in the US. Collective management organisations that already work with SoundExchange can collect the UAE royalties through their existing agreements with SoundExchange.
The agreement builds on a partnership announced in March 2025, under which SoundExchange provided technology, data and industry expertise to support neighbouring-rights administration in the UAE. MusicNation was set up as a collective management organisation to license neighbouring rights, public performance rights and mechanical reproduction rights across the Emirates. BMI is listed as a partner of MusicNation.
SoundExchange is led by president and chief executive Michael Huppe. MusicNation is chaired by Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, with Amer M. Samhoun as chief executive.
What makes this stand out is the plumbing. Cross-border royalties only flow when someone tracks the plays and moves the money. This deal puts that system in place between the two countries.
