People often ask me where does SPEK come from? Here I am answering that question for my friends at @vibe105to as I get ready to drop some new music for y’all …Bigup to @mastermindlive - my homie from back in the day doing big things in the game. So awesome to see my friends flourish. Check @vibe105to online @youtube for the full interview!
#hiphop #canada #canadianhiphop #spek #PopArabia
Comment “Spek” and we’ll send you the full episode on Youtube on how a former rapper who sold over a million records has been building the backbone of the Middle East’s $1B music industry from Abu Dhabi.
@findspek is the founder of @poparabiamusic , the company powering music rights and royalties across the Arab world and South Asia, and part of billion-dollar group Reservoir.
His roster includes JID, Mohamed Ramadan, and Nancy Ajram, and his bet is clear: the next global hits won’t come from LA or London, they’ll come from emerging markets.
What you’ll learn:
• How music rights and royalties actually work
• How to build global infrastructure from scratch
• Why culture is the next big growth market
• What it takes to take on Sony, Universal, and Warner from Abu Dhabi
Episode live on YouTube.
Today marks another step in the PopArabia journey, at an inflection point for us. As the PopArabia team grows from 9 to 33, one can’t help but look back at what we’ve built and what the future holds. A full stack vertically integrated music company in the Arab world. Publishing, label, distribution, music supervision and rights management through @esmaamusic . We are now on the ground in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt with a growing Arabic catalog- working with music creators and rights holders to deliver value for music. 15 years in, surrounded by great artists and supported by @reservoirmedia . Welcome to the new team joining us @viralwavenet - you’ve found a home at @poparabiamusic . We are only getting started!
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الإبداع يبدأ من المنزل.
من أبٍ شقّ طريقه بنفسه، إلى شراكة نمت جنباً إلى جنب، وصولاً إلى جيل جديد يحمل الشغف ذاته… قصة لا تزال تتشكّل وتستمر.
في الحلقة الثانية من سلسلة فيديوهات مبادرة "صورة عائلية"، نستكشف عالم عائلة يوسف، حيث الإبداع يتجاوز مجرد الممارسة، بل يصبح نمط حياة يومي تتوارثه الأجيال.
شاهدوا الحلقة كاملة، واكتشفوا رحلة إبداع ملهمة
Creativity begins at home.
From a father who forged his own path; a partnership that grew side by side and a new generation carrying that same passion forward… this is a story that continues to evolve.
In Episode Two of Family in Frame, we step inside the Yoosuf family, where creativity isn’t just practiced, it’s lived and passed on.
Watch the full episode and experience their journey
#creativemediaauthority #fanilyinframe #صورة_عائلية #هيئة_الإعلام_الإبداعي
There’s been a lot of talk about the tools being used to make AI generative music. I’ve been playing around with a number of them, and I wrote a new Substack with my thoughts. Link in bio!
Happy New Year!
We marked the start of 2026 live from Abu Dhabi on @cnn , discussing how music and culture are shaping new creative economies in the region through @poparabiamusic and our ongoing work as a rights organization at @esmaamusic .
Great to share this moment with @jouryelbeihiary , an incredible artist we got to know through our SAWT songwriting camp series hosted in partnership with @cmaabudhabi in Abu Dhabi.
Thank you @beckycnn and @johnberman for the great conversation and helping us highlight our work to the world.
From Abu Dhabi to the world!
Our panel from @mamamusicandconvention in Paris is now available on all digital platforms.
During the panel “Developing the market and building opportunities for artists in the Levant Region”, the speakers reflected on how fragmented Levant markets cannot build a sustainable music business, and why shared networks are essential for creators to grow beyond local boundaries. The conversation explored how the Levant stands at a unique intersection between creativity and business, and how collaboration, trust, and an entrepreneurial mindset can support a stronger and more connected music ecosystem in the SWANA region.
Moderator: @celine.hitti , Head of Artist Services MENA at @believearabia
Speakers:
Angharad Cooper, Director of Operations at the Center for Music Ecosystems
Samer Jaradat, Founder and CEO of Jafra Productions and Manager of Trio Joubran
Spek, Founder of PopArabia and Esmaa, EVP International and Emerging Markets at Reservoir Media
Special thanks to @emilygonneau and Thomas Weill for their support and facilitation.
Now available on all platforms.
Link in bio
الجلسة الحوارية التي شاركت فيها حاضنة نست ضمن مؤتمر MaMA Music and Convention في باريس أصبحت متاحة الآن على جميع المنصات الرقمية
خلال جلسة „تطوير السوق وبناء الفرص للفنانين في منطقة بلاد الشام“، تطرّق المتحدثون إلى كيف أن الأسواق المجزأة في بلاد الشام لا يمكنها بناء قطاع موسيقي مستدام، ولماذا تُعد الشبكات المشتركة ضرورية لتمكين المبدعين من تجاوز حدودهم المحلية. تناولت الجلسة أيضًا موقع بلاد الشام عند تقاطع الإبداع والعمل التجاري، وكيف يمكن للتعاون والثقة وروح المبادرة أن تساهم في بناء مشهد موسيقي أقوى وأكثر ترابطًا في منطقة غرب آسيا وشمال أفريقيا.
مديرة الجلسة: سيلين حتّي، رئيسة خدمات الفنانين في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا في Believe
المتحدثون:
أنغاراد كوبر، مديرة العمليات في Center for Music Ecosystems
سامر جرادات، مؤسس حاضنة نست الموسيقية
سبك، مؤسس PopArabia و Esmaa ونائب الرئيس التنفيذي للأسواق الدولية والناشئة في Reservoir Media
شكر خاص لإميلي غونو وتوماس ويل على دعمهما وتيسيرهما للجلسة
متاح الآن على جميع المنصات.
الرابط في البايو
