Abu Dhabi, September 18h 2023 — ESMAA, the Gulf based music rights organization, is pleased to announce the appointment of Saqer Al Qassimi as Head of Business Development & Government Relations. In this new role, Mr. Al Qassimi will be instrumental in advancing ESMAA’s goals, including growing membership and working to support the organization’s music licensing efforts throughout the UAE and the Gulf region.
Mr. Al Qassimi, an Emirati national, brings experience in corporate development and operational strategy, combined with a passion for music as a studio owner and as a longtime music creator himself. In addition to his role at ESMAA, Mr. Al Qassimi is also a board member of the Emirati Musicians’ Association, a public interest association in the UAE representing the interests of local musicians and advocating on their behalf.
Established in 2020, ESMAA is the only entity in the Gulf region representing music stakeholders of all types by working with performing rights organizations, mechanical rights organizations, and neighbouring rights organizations to provide a simplified solution to music licensing in the region. ESMAA notably became a client of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) in 2021, marking the first and only time an organization from the Gulf region has been able to benefit from CISAC’s tools for rights administration.
ESMAA has since pioneered and developed a comprehensive Gulf repertoire database for international and Arabic language music to enable royalty distributions regionally and has partnered with over 20 rights organizations and owners across the globe. Some of these include PRS for Music, SOCAN, SESAC, AMRA, COSON, FILSCAP, IMRO, STIM, the U.S. mechanical rights organization, Harry Fox Agency, and U.S. neighbouring rights organization SoundExchange.
“We are thrilled to welcome Saqer Al Qassimi to the ESMAA team,” said Hussain ‘Spek’ Yoosuf, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at ESMAA. “His established roots in the UAE and understanding of both the music industry and the local business environment will be invaluable in helping us achieve our mission of protecting the rights of music creators and advancing the music ecosystem in the Emirates and beyond.”
Mr. Al Qassimi also commented, “I am honored to join ESMAA and contribute to the flourishing music scene in the United Arab Emirates. Music is not only a source of cultural pride, but also a significant economic driver, and I look forward to working with ESMAA to support its growth and advocate for the rights of music creators.”
About ESMAA:
ESMAA is a rights management entity dedicated to advancing the music and arts ecosystem in the Gulf region. ESMAA’s mission is to protect the rights of songwriters, artists and rights owners by providing a solution to licensing their music in the Gulf region. ESMAA has already licensed music in numerous public spaces, in the retail sector and live events including DubaiEXPO; a 6 month cultural event hosted by the UAE in 2021 that included hundreds of music performances by acts including Coldplay and Nancy Ajram.
For more information about ESMAA and its initiatives, please visit www.esmaamusic.com
Media Contact:
contact@esmaamusic.com