Eyes on the Middle East
Artists Without a Label (AWAL) announced the establishment of a Dubai headquarters as the music distributor seeks to expand to Middle Eastern markets and recruit international talent.
Meet AWAL’s New Artist: Wegz
The distributor’s first venture into the region also includes the signing of their first artist from the region, Egyptian rapper and EDM musician Wegz, along with his record label Raad Records. Wegz released an album just last week, complete with features from Tayc and Ziad Zaza. “I found an outlet where I can be creative beyond my own music, by working with a new wave of younger artists eager to find their identity and footing in an industry that can be unwelcoming and even hostile at times,” Wegz commented about being signed to AWAL. “We are excited to launch this chapter with the support of AWAL, who share much of our vision and values and have made bringing this to life an exciting and smooth process.”
Not Quite a Label
AWAL has been turning heads in recent years for its business model that pitches itself as a creative alternative to a label, with the goal of providing musicians more creative freedom. Some of the most prominent indie artists of today, including Laufey, Djo, and Lauv, have called it home, and the not-quite-label has helped launch the careers of artists like Rex Orange County, FINNEAS, and Kim Petras. The company’s international endeavors can also be seen in its expansion to India with the opening of a local Mumbai office two years ago and its West African expansion one year ago.
Operations Details
The Middle Eastern expansion was made possible by a partnership with Sony Music Middle East, whose Music A&R Director Issa Outa will supervise AWAL’s regional operations. Outa previously worked in senior positions at Chabka, Anghami Productions, and Vibe Records, with years of experience in managing indie artists.
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