The Companies acquire catalogs of Iraqi company HFM Production & Kuwaiti singer-songwriter Essa Almarzoug

Reservoir Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSVR), an award-winning independent music company, in conjunction with PopArabia, the leading music publisher and independent music company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), announced two new acquisitions to expand the Companies’ share of music from MENA. The Companies acquired all compositions and masters owned by Iraqi music production house HFM Production. In addition, Reservoir and PopArabia announced the acquisition of publishing and recorded rights for the catalog of Kuwaiti artist Essa Almarzoug.

Founded in 2011 by Iraqi composer Humam Hassan, HFM Production built a reputation specializing in media production, spanning from music videos to TV commercials. HFM has since established its own record label and frontline release team, producing over 500 recordings and YouTube videos by artists from Iraq and the broader Arabic world. Some of their top artists include Ahmed Al Maslawi, Zaid Al Rashed, Ahmed Fadel, and Salma Rachid. The HFM YouTube channel has accumulated over 3.1 million subscribers and nearly 1.4 billion views. The deal with Reservoir and PopArabia includes a number of forthcoming new releases by HFM scheduled for the next year.

HFM Production Founder and General Manager Hassan commented, “With the network and expertise of Reservoir and PopArabia, I am excited to see how they can further the reach and impact of HFM’s catalog on a global scale. We look forward to highlighting our talent and amplifying their voices to even wider audiences.”

Known for blending traditional Khaleeji melodies with modern Arabic pop, singer-songwriter Essa Almarzoug has emerged as one of the most popular Kuwaiti stars, with a fandom stretching across the Gulf and MENA. He first rose to fame in 2013 with an appearance on Star Academy 9, a popular musical reality TV franchise in MENA. Since then, he has featured in several films and theatrical productions, while also focusing on his career as a solo artist. Almarzoug’s music has garnered over 619 million views on YouTube to date, including his breakout hits, such as “Qanabel,” “Thamen Ageba,” and “Akher Hebah.”

On the deal, Almarzoug said, “I am excited to partner with PopArabia and Reservoir in this next chapter of my career. I look forward to bringing Khaleeji pop music to the world with the support of a team who shares my passion and vision.”

The two deals demonstrate Reservoir and PopArabia’s continuous commitment to investing in the MENA region and building a regional platform for Arabic music.

Vice President of A&R and Acquisitions at PopArabia Wissam Khodur also commented, “PopArabia and Reservoir continue to deepen our roots across MENA with key acquisitions of influential Arabic music, such as the Iraqi HFM Production catalog and Kuwait’s Essa Almarzoug’s catalog. HFM and Essa have demonstrated an ability to create quality music that resonates with fans not only from their home countries, but also across the region. Our team is excited to grow our portfolio with these diverse catalogs, while providing support to expand their reach to more of the Gulf and beyond.”