Anghami co-founder Eddy Maroun launches Arabic music IP platform IPNation, focusing on $100m with backing from Affect Media Companions
A brand new funding platform devoted to Arabic music catalogs and leisure mental property has launched within the United Arab Emirates.
IPNation went reside on Wednesday (August 12) with an preliminary dedication from Affect Media Companions, the New York-based rights firm supported by strategic partnerships with funds and accounts managed by BlackRock.
IPNation has set a goal funding dimension of USD $100 million.
The corporate says it’s going to purchase, develop, and develop music and leisure IP throughout the Center East and North Africa (MENA), and describes itself as the primary funding platform devoted solely to Arabic music catalogs and leisure IP.
It was based by Eddy Maroun, co-founder of MENA streaming service Anghami, and Jose Maria Dot, former Chief Funding Officer of Abu Dhabi-listed Multiply Group, since renamed Two Level Zero Group following its merger with 2PointZero and Ghitha Holding.
Maroun is IPNation‘s Chairman and Chief Innovation Officer, whereas Dot is its CEO.
“For many years, Arabic music created large cultural influence however little or no long-term possession worth for the area itself,” mentioned Maroun.
“IPNation adjustments that. We aren’t solely buying catalogs; we’re constructing a platform that transforms Arabic IP into international leisure franchises throughout music, reside experiences, storytelling, gaming, AI, and past.”
“We aren’t solely buying catalogs; we’re constructing a platform that transforms Arabic IP into international leisure franchises throughout music, reside experiences, storytelling, gaming, AI, and past.”
Eddy Maroun, IPNation
The dimensions of Affect Media‘s preliminary dedication was not disclosed.
Headquartered within the UAE, IPNation will spend money on music masters and publishing rights, artist manufacturers, Identify, Picture, and Likeness (NIL), and leisure IP originating from the Arab world.
Past acquisitions, IPNation says it’s going to develop that IP into “multi-format leisure franchises” spanning immersive experiences, reside reveals, movie, documentaries, merchandise, gaming, licensing, AI-powered derivatives, and fan engagement.
“Arabic music and leisure IP symbolize one of the crucial undervalued cultural asset courses globally as we speak,” mentioned Dot.
“IPNation was created to institutionalize funding into iconic and predictable income-generating IP whereas producing upside by our IPNation Worth Creation Playbook, bringing our music to bigger audiences effectively.
“We imagine the Center East is getting into a brand new period the place tradition itself turns into a scalable monetary asset.”
“We imagine the Center East is getting into a brand new period the place tradition itself turns into a scalable monetary asset.”
Jose Maria Dot, IPNation
Affect Media Companions was based in 2019 and is led by Founder and Co-Managing Companion Lylette Pizarro McLean.
The corporate shaped a USD $750 million fund with BlackRock Different Traders and Warner Music Group in 2022, and its portfolio spans rights from artists together with DJ Khaled, Future, and Enrique Iglesias.
On July 29, Affect Media signed an settlement to purchase considerably all the belongings of Anthem Leisure for over USD $600 million, in collaboration with funds and accounts managed by associates of BlackRock.
“This partnership marks an vital step within the evolution of Affect Media,” mentioned Ram Kolluri, the corporate’s Head of Investments and Strategic Partnerships.
“We’ve lengthy believed that premium music IP is a worldwide asset class, and the Center East represents one of the crucial thrilling alternatives for long-term development.
“IPNation combines deep regional experience with a compelling imaginative and prescient for the way forward for Arabic music and leisure IP. Collectively, we imagine we will create lasting worth for creators, rights holders, and audiences throughout the area and past.”
MENA recorded music revenues grew 15.2% YoY in 2025, making the area the joint second-fastest-growing globally alongside Sub-Saharan Africa, in response to IFPI‘s World Music Report 2026.
Streaming accounted for 97.5% of the area’s recorded music revenues final yr, on IFPI‘s wholesale numbers.
IPNation says music catalogs have turn out to be “one of many world’s fastest-growing different asset courses,” whereas Arabic music and leisure IP have remained “largely missed by institutional buyers.”
Maroun co-founded Anghami in 2012 with Elie Habib and served as its CEO till the streaming service accomplished a merger with TV and movie subscription service OSN+ in April 2024, when Habib took over as Anghami CEO.
Nasdaq-listed Anghami confirmed on June 30 that it had obtained a preliminary, non-binding proposal from controlling shareholder OSN Streaming Restricted to take the corporate personal at USD $3.39 in money per share. OSN, which owns roughly 67% of the corporate, would purchase all shares it doesn’t already maintain. Anghami‘s board has shaped a particular committee of three unbiased administrators to guage the proposal.
IPNation‘s declare to be the primary platform of its variety rests on its construction as a devoted funding automobile. Reservoir Media and its Abu Dhabi-headquartered associate PopArabia have been buying Arabic music rights since forming a three way partnership in 2020, however PopArabia is an working rights firm spanning publishing, label providers, and distribution quite than a standalone acquisition fund.
In April, PopArabia acquired MENA label and distributor Viral Wave, taking the mixed catalog it administers to shut to 100,000 Arabic songs.
IPNation says it’s evaluating acquisition alternatives spanning legacy music catalogs, publishing belongings, artist estates, leisure rights, and culturally vital IP throughout the MENA area.Music Enterprise Worldwide
