Less than a year after launching its first ever regional MENA (Middle East and North Africa) chart, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) unveiled four new music charts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and North Africa.
These charts aim to provide official rankings of the top streaming tracks in countries across the MENA region.
Using IFPI’s charts methodology, these new charts incorporate music streaming data from major digital service providers in the region, including Anghami, Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, and YouTube. The charts are compiled by BMAT.
The launch of the Official Egypt Chart, Official Saudi Arabia Chart, Official UAE Chart, and Official North Africa Chart marks the first instance of official rankings being made available in each respective country, the IFPI said Wednesday (September 27).
The Official North Africa Chart encompasses Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
IFPI will release each of these market charts on a weekly basis, every Wednesday, while the Official MENA Chart will continue to be published every Tuesday. The charts will be accessible on the Official MENA Chart website and will also be announced via the Official MENA Chart’s social media channels, alongside insights for that week’s rankings.
“Each of these countries have their own unique music heritage, and the MENA region continues to grow strongly thanks to the breadth and diversity of talent, and through investments by record labels.”
Frances Moore, IFPI
The introduction of these four new charts follows the debut of the inaugural official regional chart for MENA in November 2022, which compiled data from 13 markets covering over 300 million people.
The rollout of these new charts underscores the sustained growth observed throughout the entire region, with recorded music revenues experiencing a 23.8% surge in 2022, the IFPI said, citing its Global Music Report 2023.
“We are very pleased to be expanding the Official MENA Chart to show for the first time the top hits in Egypt, North Africa, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Added Moore: “Each of these countries have their own unique music heritage, and the MENA region continues to grow strongly thanks to the breadth and diversity of talent, and through investments by record labels. These new charts are a platform to celebrate and showcase this diversity,” IFPI CEO Frances Moore said.
The current official charts for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and North Africa show that Nawal’s Mekhasmak, Majid Almohandis’ Janant Galbi, Chaleya by Shilpa Rao, Kumaar, Arijit Singh, Anirudh Ravichander, and Noss Ellil by are the No. 1 hits for those markets, respectively.
The latest development follows IFPI’s signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy (MoE) in June 2022, pledging to “to support the continuing growth of the UAE’s recorded music business.”
The IFPI at the time said the “landmark agreement” is “a first-of-its-kind for the region.”
Previously the fastest-growing music market in 2021, MENA had the third-highest growth rate in 2022. It represented the highest share for streaming of any region globally at 95.5%, according to the IFPI’s 2023 report.
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