Universal Music Group (UMG) is set to establish its inaugural Capitol Studios outside of Hollywood in collaboration with DGMC, a music organization based in the United Arab Emirates. This venture includes the creation of live performance venues, music education academies, and a new record label, contributing to the development of a "Music City" in the thriving music hub of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The studios will boast cutting-edge features such as a Dolby Atmos mixing room, advanced recording equipment, and rehearsal spaces for artists and songwriters. The joint venture label aims to elevate local talent to international stardom.
The collaborative effort between UMG and DGMC is fundamentally focused on fostering and empowering gifted artists and songwriters in the region, facilitating their journey to realize both creative and commercial success. This partnership comes after UMG's acquisition of Chabaka, a UAE-based music company, in the previous summer, integrating it into the Virgin Music Group. The MENA region, with its remarkable growth rate, has become an increasingly appealing landscape for music mergers and acquisitions, experiencing the highest growth globally in 2021 and ranking as the third-fastest growing region with a growth rate of 23.8% in 2022.
Adam Granite, Executive VP of Market Development for UMG, expressed the company's longstanding acknowledgment of the Middle East's potential. Granite stated that UMG is highly honored to collaborate with esteemed partners like DGMC. He emphasized the shared enthusiasm and vision with DGMC to unlock this potential and support the upcoming wave of recording artists and songwriters. Granite highlighted that the partnership aims to establish a robust platform for the remarkable talent in the region, expediting their career growth both domestically and internationally.
