Middle East regional music industry to launch Arabian Music Academy (AMA) to promote and safeguard Arab music industry

The AMA is a regional membership driven initiative, endorsed by Dubai Media City (DMC) and the government in Dubai to promote and enhance creativity in Arabian music across the Middle East and North Africa.

The AMA will operate under the guidance of the IFPI, with headquarters in Dubai and regional offices in Beirut and Cairo. The institution will conduct several key activities and programmes to recognize the accomplishments of Arab artistes who have made exceptional contributions to music in the Arab world. The AMA will also lead campaigns on critical issues affecting the Arab music community and consumers, such as labeling, legislation, protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), home taping, piracy, archive and preservation issues, artistic exchange programmes and censorship concerns.

"The AMA was born out of the need to promote and protect the rights of the Arab music industry, through a planned campaign. As part of our programme, we have planned several activities including the Arabian Music Regional Conference and the first ever Arabian Music Awards, which is scheduled for May 15, 2004 this year in Dubai. The music awards will be based on listeners' votes, and not on sales figures or chart positions, and will recognize artistic and/or technical achievements, The awards will be an annual event and aim at recognizing excellence and creating greater public awareness of the cultural diversity and contributions of Arab recording artistes, both regionally and internationally,, said Shuckri Bundakji, Chairman, IFPI Middle East North African Committee.

"Ziad Batal of All 4 Productions will produce the Arabian Music Awards. In addition to the premier event, AMA will be hosting a gala dinner on May 14, 2004 in Dubai to honor and award the people who have made a significant contribution in the Arab Music Industry with the 'AMA Recognition Awards'. AMA will also present achievement award to artistes such as Prince Walid Bin Talal, Prince Abdulah Faisal, Mohsen Gaber, AMA will also recognize and award individuals who have made contributions in spreading the Arabian musical culture internationally such as Pascal Negre, Miles Copeland and others," said Shuckri Bundakji, Chairman, IFPI Middle East North African Committee.

"In the future the awards will be held on the sidelines of the Arabian Music Regional Conference. The conference is designed to promote and educate the Arab music community with the help of workshops, musical showcases and music related educational forums. Some of the events that will be held include a mentoring session, songwriting workshops and a music copyright and publishing seminar," stated Adrian Cheesley, EMI Arabia.

"AMA will also organize a series of educational workshops throughout the year. The topics for the workshops include music publishing and performing rights, tips on getting music aired on radio stations and a legal clinic for musicians," stated Carl Abou Malham, Warner Music.

The success of AMA will be evident by it's loyal membership which will consist of musicians, audio-technicians, producers, and sound engineers. AMA will be supported by associated members representing agents, managers, retailers, distributors, club managers, music related artists, legal services and other music related businesses. Organizations that have already confirmed their membership include leading Middle East music companies such as BMG MENA, EMI Arabia, Sony, Universal, Megastar, Rotana, Warner Music and Alam Al Fan.