Podeo, the leading podcast platform in the Middle East & North Africa, has welcomed The Mo Show onto its hosting, distribution, and monetization platform.The Mo Show offers captivating insights on Saudi Arabian life and culture through its intimate deep-dive interviews, hosted by Mohammed Islam.Powered by Podeo's unique distribution network, The Mo Show now broadcasts far and wide, available on Podeo, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anghami, YouTube, imo, and wherever listeners get their podcasts.In a strategic move last month, Podeo announced an exclusive partnership with the messaging giant imo, revolutionizing podcast distribution with instant access to over 200 million listeners, a feature exclusive to Podeo. Podeo’s recently announced partnership with Rotana also enables it to maximize audio monetization for creators and publishers.Podeo's mission—to magnify the reach of diverse voices—echoes through The Mo Show, highlighting Saudi Arabia's evolution and triumphs. The podcast has hosted more than 100 luminary guests, such as HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar, HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, HRH Prince Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, Anas Bukhash, Hala Kazim, and Hassan Jameel, offering listeners authentic narratives of the Kingdom's advancements and its people's inspirational journeys.Stefano Fallaha, CEO & Founder of Podeo, said: "Our core ambition at Podeo is to bring powerful voices to the forefront of global audiences. The alignment of Mohammed's vision with ours creates a perfect harmony. We're thrilled to support The Mo Show's growth and unlock new avenues for audio monetization."Mohammed Islam, the host of The Mo Show, said: "Podeo stands unmatched in empowering creators with its distinctive reach and monetization capabilities. Their vision synchronizes with our aspirations, setting the stage for powerful growth together.

The Arab Youth Center (AYC) has launched the third edition of the Arab Youth Podcast training programme. The programme aims to empower talented youth from various Arab countries with the skills of preparing audio digital content that touches the priorities of young people, support human development paths, economies and knowledge societies in the Arab region using the latest tools and technologies.The new edition of the programme is organised by the centre in cooperation with leading institutions in the Arabic content industry, including the international platforms Sawt, Content, Molham Plus, Anghami, the knowledge application Wajeez and Sky News Arabia Academy.The third edition of the Arab Youth Podcast training programme will welcome participants aged between 15-35 who are interested in podcasting, designing, planning, implementing and producing creative audio content in Arabic.Moza Al Hinai, Director of Strategic Research at AYC, said: "Through this programme, we seek to improve audio content, contribute to the production of high-quality Arabic youth audio channels, enhance the skills of Arab youth in the field of audio colouring, and provide young people with the basic and advanced skills necessary to launch their own audio platforms with the support of specialists and experts in the field of podcasts from the programme's partners, in addition to their participation in training courses and workshops in the field of podcasting and podcasting industry, in addition to direct advisory sessions between Young, experts and inspirers in the world of podcasts.”The programme includes specialised courses in podcast production, audio recording and audio colouring, in addition to podcast montage and marketing workshops, and the top 20 finalists will have an intensive training stage. This includes hours of technical consultations with experts in the field to develop ideas, improve the work plan, and answer questions, within direct sessions on developing business plans, developing technical production, and creating publishing and marketing plans. The training takes place in two stages - the first of which 100 men and women participate to present podcast episodes at the end, from which the programme committee chooses the best 20 episodes, to qualify their owners for the second phase. The second phase includes training sessions, ending with the selection of the winning projects to honour the top three.

There has been an exciting initiative by YouTube to engage with the youth in Saudi Arabia through their flagship series Hekayat YouTube. The special edition of Hekayat YouTube focuses on Saudi youth, aiming to create a platform for dialogue between decision-makers and Gen-Z in the Kingdom.The series brings together top Saudi YouTube creators and influential public figures from Saudi Arabia to discuss various topics such as the future of jobs, artificial intelligence, wellbeing and quality of life, the creator economy, and sports.Diverse Saudi creators from various fields including lifestyle, health, technology, and investment are participating in the series. Some of the notable creators and contributors mentioned are Beeko, Faisal Alsaif, Sukkari Life, and Faris Alturki. Additionally, influential members from the public and private sectors in Saudi Arabia are participating, such as representatives from the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, the Quality of Life Program, and private sector leaders.Tarek Amin, YouTube’s Director in MENA, highlighted the importance of the vibrant creator community in Saudi Arabia and how YouTube serves as a reflection of what's top of mind for Saudi youth. The initiative aims to provide a platform for creators to engage with decision-makers and share their experiences.With 63% of Saudis under the age of 30, YouTube's reach in Saudi Arabia is significant. YouTube data indicates that the platform reached over 20 million people in Saudi Arabia over the age of 18 in December 2022, with the average person watching over 55 minutes of YouTube per day in June 2022.The series consists of five episodes and is available on YouTube Arabia’s YouTube channel, participating creator’s channels, and major podcast platforms such as Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anghami, and Deezer.The first episode, titled "Play it Forward with YouTube," premiered on January 31 on Ana Beeko’s YouTube channel, YouTube Arabia’s YouTube Channel, and major podcast platforms. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly.This initiative seems well-designed to engage with Saudi youth through content that resonates with their interests and concerns, while also providing them with a platform to interact with decision-makers

Anghami, the leading music and entertainment audio streaming platform in the MENA region, has unveiled its highly anticipated annual End of Year campaign, #Anghami2023inMusic. The campaign introduces official 2023 Music Charts and showcases exclusive personalized recaps, providing users with unique insights on their musical journey and highlighting artists’ stats and data.This year’s campaign was not just about numbers, it’s about the stories behind the music. Anghami takes its users on a journey into their own music adventure, from those who know exactly what they want to the discoverers by nature, all while capturing the essence of their mood. Fun remains at the forefront of this campaign, ensuring that users not only gain valuable insights but also enjoy reflecting on their musical choices. The campaign offers an interesting recap of listeners’ year in music, from minutes played and top artists to unique moments, and overall mood, and top songs that defined their year.Artists, too, are a core part of the experience, as they discover remarkable data about their music, fans and regional reach. Access to data insights such as song releases, top streamed songs, total streams, followers count, and growth rate allows them to connect more deeply with their fan communities. This campaign not only strengthens the bond between artists and their fans but also adds an extra layer of engagement to the overall music experience on the platform.The official 2023 in Music Charts reveal impressive trends in both Arabic and International music scenes. The top three Arabic artists—Amr Diab, Ahmed Saad, and Tamer Hosny—continue to influence the regional music landscape. Meanwhile, globally renowned artists such as The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, and Drake top the International charts, showcasing Anghami’s diverse content and user base.One standout in the Arabic charts is the iconic Amr Diab, whose exclusive releases on Anghami consistently topped the charts, including El Hafla and Batamen Alek. Notably, Amr Diab became the most streamed artist of all time on the platform this year, with 1.8+ billion streams and still counting.Cairokee’s Album “Roma,” released in late 2022, left a lasting impact on the charts, proving its popularity throughout 2023. Other standout Arabic albums like “Ma3aya Hatbda3” by Ramy Sabry and “Raye2” by Hamza Namira dominated Anghami charts for months, a rare feat in the ever-evolving music scene.International hits also take center stage, with “Calm Down” by Rema & Selena Gomez securing the coveted #1 spot for the second consecutive year—an unprecedented achievement in Anghami’s history. Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers” and “Creepin'” by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage round out the top three.Beyond individual preferences, Anghami reveals remarkable statistics, with users streaming music for a staggering 23.15 billion minutes in 2023. Egyptian Pop emerges as the top genre gathering over 2.2 billion streams, while Arabic Indie gaining more popularity with a total of 448 million streams.Salam Kmeid, Head of Content Marketing at Anghami, commented: “Our mission is rooted in delivering precise insights, offering fans a deeper understanding of their musical preferences and listening habits. We also strive to empower artists and creators in celebrating their milestones and building stronger connections with their fanbase. As we look back to the past year, we wrap up 2023 with key achievements in both music and podcasts that we share with our Arab community around the world.”As Anghami remains steadfast in its mission to recognize and support up-and-coming talents, the platform also acknowledges Viral Artists in 2023, including AlShami and Nawal among others, contributing to a fresher and promising trend into the MENA music scene.#Anghami2023inMusic continues to resonate and make waves, offering users and artists alike a rich experience of insights and results, while reaffirming Anghami’s commitment to being at the forefront of the music streaming experience in the MENA region.

Recognized by MENA Effie, a symbol of marketing excellence spanning five decades, this distinction reflects Anghami’s commitment to create effective music initiatives that resonate across the region.Earlier this year, Anghami teamed up with TikTok and the Saudi Music Commission to launch “Sound of Saudi” competition, a fully-digital contest aiming to discover, elevate and boost Saudi musical talents to global recognition. The success of this initiative was made possible through the support of XELEMENT Agency, the award-winning Saudi Arabian advertising agency whose collaboration played a pivotal role in bringing Anghami’s vision to life.The campaign was also shortlisted in the highly competitive categories of “Social Media” and “Media Innovation: Existing Channel, Emerging & New Channels.”Representatives of XELEMENT Agency, Anghami & TikTok MENAMarian Bahader, VP of Marketing at Anghami, commented: “The most gratifying type of work is the one where creative energy can be channeled to help others. Through strategic partnerships with the Saudi Music Commission and TikTok, the competition drew over 32,000 participants and achieved 970.7 million views, reaching 35.8 million users. The whole team at Anghami worked relentlessly around the clock for many months to make this a possibility and I am grateful to each and everyone of them.”“We’ve been privileged to witness a surge of exceptional talents from the Kingdom. The fact that we could create a talent hunt on TikTok allowing so many hidden gems to participate from the comfort of their home and stand a chance to reach their musical goals – was just remarkable. The songs are now accessible to all music lovers on Anghami,” added Kamil Abi Khalil, Head of Production at Anghami.As Anghami continues to score big, the team continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the ever-evolving landscape of the music and entertainment industry.

Dubai-based broadcaster OSN is to merge its streaming platform OSN+ with streaming app Anghami after signing a conditional binding agreement. Dubai-based OSN, a subsidiary of Kuwait-listed KIPCO, will inject up to $50 million into Abu Dhabi-based Anghami for a majority stake in the app. The transaction is subject to approvals and is expected to be finalised in early 2024, a Boursa Kuwait filing from KIPCO said Tuesday. The new entity will have more than 120 million registered users, 2.5 million paying subscribers and $100 million in revenue, the companies said in a joint statement. Abu Dhabi-based Anghami received $5 million in investment from Saudi Arabia’s SRMG Ventures, the venture capital arm of Tadawul-listed Saudi Research and Media Group SJSC, in August.Anghami has a number of regional investors including Middle East Venture Partners, Mobily Ventures Holding WLL, with Shuaa Asset Management holding the largest share at 15.55% according to Refinitiv data. 

Dubai: Vivium Holding, a progressive single-family office headquartered in Dubai, has announced its partnership with MEVP (Middle East Venture Partners), a leading venture capital asset manager in the MENA region, as Cornerstone Partner. The collaboration marks an important milestone in expanding both companies’ investments horizons, fostering growth and innovation in the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem.MEVP has been at the forefront of venture capital investing in the MENA region for more than a decade with a strong record of successful investments in technology start-ups across various sectors. Vivium Holding’s mission to invest in talent, ideas and build brands to leave a meaningful generational impact establishes powerful synergies that strengthen the collaboration. By joining forces with MEVP as Cornerstone Partner, Vivium aims to leverage its expertise and resources to identify and support the most promising technology start-ups in MENA.Vivium Holding is focused on building purposeful value creation for investors, stakeholders, and businesses in the MENA region through its diversified investment portfolio in the areas of luxury residential and hospitality, technology, and passion investments such as art and design.MEVP currently manages four regional technology-focused venture capital funds with more than USD 300 million in assets under management and USD 1.6 billion in co-investments. MEVP has successfully backed more than 60 start-ups across MENA including industry leaders such as Anghami, the Nasdaq-listed MENA leader in music streaming and digital entertainment, digital payment infrastructure provider HyperPay, and Fresha, one of the top global digital marketplaces for beauty and wellness services.The partnership is established as MEVP launches its fourth flagship MENA VC fund – the Middle East Venture Fund IV (MEVF IV) – with a target size of USD 150 million. MEVF IV’s will focus on investing in innovative early-stage and growth-stage technology companies and supporting their growth into MENA market leaders.“We are pleased to join MEVP in this strategic partnership that underscores our commitment to support the growth of innovative start-ups in MENA.” said Elie Khouri, Founder and CEO of Vivium Holding. “Together, we will accelerate the development of the region’s thriving VC ecosystem, empowering start-ups to grow into mainstream regional and global champions and to create long-term sustainable businesses.”Walid Hanna, Chairman and co-CEO of MEVP, added: “My MEVP Partners and I are thrilled to have Vivium Holding join us as Cornerstone Partner. Vivium Holding’s strong focus on technology investments and their global perspective on innovation will complement MEVP’s existing capabilities, allowing us to together create even more value to both our portfolios and to the wider entrepreneurship community in the MENA region.”Vivium Holding's appointment as Cornerstone Partner with MEVP is timely; the MENA region continues to witness a surge in entrepreneurial activity, with startups disrupting traditional industries and driving digital transformation. The collaboration between Vivium Holding and MEVP is poised to drive economic growth, job creation, and technological advancements across the MENA region.Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Anghami Inc., the leading music and entertainment streaming platform in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region, announces a first ever in-game vanity drop in FIFA 23.FIFA 23 players, globally, will now be able to access an Anghami themed kit and stadium design in FIFA Ultimate Team. They are also able to customize an avatar of their own with an Anghami look in both VOLTA and Pro-Clubs.The creative direction of the kit was inspired by Anghami’s vibrant new positioning and rebranding that aims to empower Arab youth everywhere to create and connect with the world. With its tagline “The world is listening”, Anghami brings its new identity to the screens in a cool, bold and engaging way.Qossay Alsattari, Anghami's Distribution Partnerships Lead, commented: "The synergies between music, video gaming and football are unparalleled, allowing us to offer our audiences unique innovations that resonate with them and enriches their entertainment experience. We are quite excited to have FIFA 23' players across the world access and enjoy the Anghami Kit and to showcase their best kicks with our playful branding."The vanity items will be available in game from Friday 23rd December till Thursday 30th December, and can be unlocked through Squad Building Challenges.Earlier in the year, EA SPORTS had partnered with Anghami to celebrate the release of FIFA 23 with a special track and music video titled ‘Merengue’. The track was written and performed by Saudi based rapper and hip-hop artist, Lil Eazy and produced by DJ Outlaw and Sarah Nabil.Download the app and learn more at www.anghami.com.In July 2022, Electronic Arts released details on EA SPORTS FIFA 23, available worldwide on September 30, which will feature updates to its groundbreaking next-gen HyperMotion2 gameplay technology† that elevates every moment on the pitch and much more. With 300 individual licensed partners, giving players access to more than 19,000 athletes across 700 teams, in 100 stadiums and over 30 leagues around the world, FIFA 23 is the place you can play in iconic competitions such as UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga Santander, CONMEBOL Libertadores and CONMEBOL Sudamericana.Join the EA SPORTS FIFA community on Instagram, or follow us on Twitter @EA_ME EA SPORTS FIFA 23 assets are available to download on the official EA press site at PRESS.EA.COM.†HYPERMOTION TECHNOLOGY ONLY AVAILABLE ON PLAYSTATION 5, XBOX SERIES X|S, PC, AND STADIA VERSIONS.

In the initial six months of 2021, the paid subscribers of Anghami, the music streaming platform, have increased by 41% at 1.28 million, in comparison to the same period in the past year. The number of users who were active increased by 46% to 19.5 million, raising revenues in the six months of Anghami to $21.1 million, at a rise of 29% on an annual basis. The streaming platform, the competitor to Spotify in the Arab world, has also made efforts to invest in extending its local Arabic content. It has previously declared a partnership with Amr Diab, the Egyptian superstar who also happens to be the artist who is most listened on the app, with 1.2 billion streams. Deals were also signed by Anghami, with Rotana Music, and Wajeez, the audiobook subscription service showcasing Arabic content.