Reservoir and PopArabia Acquire Catalog of Omar Kamal

Independent music company Reservoir Media and music publisher PopArabia acquire the catalog, publishing, and masters of Egyptian star Omar Kamal.

In conjunction with the leading music publisher and independent music company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, PopArabia, Reservoir Media has announced the acquisition of Egyptian star Omar Kamal’s catalog. The deal includes both publishing and master rights.

Over the past decade, Egyptian artist Omar Kamal has risen to prominence across the MENA region. He is credited with helping bring mahraganat, a genre of music mixing Egyptian rhythms, electronic music, and rap lyrics, to listeners outside of Egypt.

Kamal is best known for his hit 2020 song, “Mahragan Bent El Geran,” with Hassan Shakosh, which featured controversial yet captivating lyrics that resonated with audiences throughout the Arab world. The song earned Kamal widespread international attention, becoming a cultural sensation, particularly with youth across MENA. Named one of Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Arabic Pop Songs of the 21st century, the track also garnered over 700 million views on YouTube.

Kamal has released a steady stream of singles in recent years, many in collaboration with Hassan Shakosh, and hits like “Oud Al batal” and “LGHBTITA” have continued to perform well on YouTube. His vocal range and stage presence have contributed to his status as a star across Egypt. In 2021, he also expanded into acting, making his debut on the television series Bayn El-Samaa Wa El-Ard, further solidifying his presence in the country.

“I’m excited to strike this deal with Reservoir and PopArabia, a company built for artists and run by artists,” said Kamal. “I know this partnership will be a strong motivation for us to do great work together.”

PopArabia Vice President of A&R and Acquisitions, Wissam Khodur, added: “Omar is one of the hottest Shaabi artists in Egypt and throughout MENA and was able to pivot into mahraganat with his own unique twist. We’re thrilled to bring his music to PopArabia and look forward to helping him reach new international heights with his catalog.”

Reservoir Founder and Chief Executive Officer Golnar Khosrowshahi concluded: “Acquiring Omar’s influential catalog is another key growth moment for Reservoir and PopArabia’s market share in Egypt, the dominant Arabic music market. This deal builds upon our other recent strategic acquisitions and further supports our efforts to become a major tastemaker in the region.”