Beyond postponed concerts, the Iran war also disrupted less visible parts of the music business. Record labels across the Middle East and North Africa experienced shelved campaigns, cancelled video shoots, and stalled sponsorship activities, according to Rawan Al Dabbas, regional director at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents record company members worldwide. The disruption, she noted, highlighted the industry’s deep interconnectedness.
“The main challenge is uncertainty and instability. This is something we have faced and overcome before, particularly during Covid-19, which saw the shutdown of concerts in most parts of the world,” she told The National. “It also served as a reminder of how tightly knit the music ecosystem is here, and how each strand of the industry complements the other; if any part is disrupted, the entire system is affected.”
This pressure comes at a time when the region’s recorded music business continues its rapid expansion. In its latest Global Music Report, IFPI reported that revenue in MENA surged by 15.2 percent in 2025, positioning it as one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets. Streaming alone accounted for 97.5 percent of recorded music revenue.
“It is frustrating because we want to maintain this momentum,” Al Dabbas stated. “The year-on-year growth we are witnessing is truly a testament to the work that happens behind the songs. It is often the record label that arranges recording sessions, manages marketing, connects artists with fans, organizes concerts, and invests in new technology, both creatively and for live shows.”
With the ceasefire holding, live events are gradually making a comeback, potentially leading to a bumper season of concerts and events from September through the first quarter of 2027. Al Dabbas mentioned that her organization is currently assessing the scale of the disruption while maintaining open lines of communication with both industry stakeholders and authorities, including the UAE’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Economy.
“Discussions, particularly in the UAE, have been constructive as authorities seek to understand the effects of the past few weeks – ranging from the financial stability of our members and their activities to how best to mitigate or support the losses they unfortunately had to absorb.” Al Dabbas highlighted practical measures that could have an immediate impact, especially for artists and companies operating on tighter margins. “They could waive performance permits in some venues, which would significantly support local artists who may not have the budget to perform without such discounts. Obtaining a performance permit can be quite costly.”
This level of engagement, Al Dabbas noted, reflects a growing recognition among policymakers of the music business’s value, particularly since IFPI launched its MENA chapter in 2022. Beyond launching the Official MENA Charts across 13 markets, from Morocco to the UAE, the organization has also collaborated with music licensing agencies, including the Emirates Music Rights Association, to enhance the collection and distribution of performance royalties to rights holders.
“There is a real underestimation of the value of this work, because licensing forms the foundation of any thriving music sector. The region is making progress, but there is still work to be done in aligning this aspect of the business with international standards and local priorities,” she stated. “Once we achieve that, we will have even better data to track what is truly happening here and to substantiate what we already know: that music in the Middle East and North Africa is growing.”
In more practical terms, such credibility could help create jobs and encourage the establishment of more independent labels. “It ensures more artists, labels, and rights-holders enter the industry, creating more employment opportunities across the sector, as they know frameworks are in place to protect and monetize their creative work,” Al Dabbas explained. In that sense, while the recent conflict interrupted parts of the business, the underlying conditions driving its growth remain intact.
“The only thing that has truly changed is consumption. While some parts of the industry, such as concert promoters and live shows, may be affected, music has always found a way through different avenues,” she observed. “You have a young audience that dictates where the music is going. There is still high digital adoption and increasing recognition for local talent. These are constants and they are not going to disappear.”
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