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Egyptian artists ride streaming wave to global success, Spotify report reveals
The report highlights a fivefold increase in royalties earned by Egyptian artists on Spotify since 2022, with a 100% jump from 2023 to 2024 alone.
Egyptian musicians are making major strides on the global stage, driven by the power of streaming. To mark World Music Day, Spotify has released its Loud & Clear report in Egypt for the first time, offering insight into how local artists are benefiting from the rise of digital platforms and expanding their international reach.
According to the report, royalties earned by Egyptian artists on Spotify have increased more than fivefold since 2022, with a 100% rise between 2023 and 2024 alone. The sharp year-on-year increase highlights growing listener engagement with Egyptian music — both at home and abroad — and reflects the continued evolution of streaming into a key source of income for artists.
Mark Abou Jaoude, Spotify's Head of Music for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, said: 'This is a pivotal moment for Egyptian music. The growth we're seeing goes beyond numbers — it signals a real shift in how artists are building audiences, careers, and cultural impact. Streaming is playing a key role in that transformation, creating new ways for artists to be heard and discovered, both locally and globally. What we've shared in Loud & Clear reflects this momentum — and it's only the start.'
Independent artists are leading the charge. In 2024, over 90% of royalties generated by Egyptian artists came from those working independently or with indie labels — one of the highest rates globally. Genres like Mahraganat and Egyptian hip-hop, once considered underground, now dominate local streaming charts and shape the evolving identity of Egyptian music.
Internationally, Egyptian artists are finding eager audiences. In 2024, more than 80% of the royalties earned came from outside Egypt, with significant traction in countries like the US, UK, Germany, Brazil, India and Indonesia. Egyptian music was discovered more than 480m times by first-time listeners on Spotify that year, reflecting a booming global interest in Arabic-language sounds.
The momentum is also local. Within Egypt, Spotify streams of Egyptian music jumped more than 70% in 2024. Since Spotify's regional launch in 2018, domestic listening has grown nearly 450%, with over 80% of tracks in Spotify Egypt's Daily Top 50 chart created by Egyptian artists.
Spotify's report also notes the growing global presence of Arabic as a musical language, ranking it among the fastest-growing languages on the platform in 2024. This rise supports Egypt's role at the forefront of Arabic music's global evolution.
In addition to streaming exposure, Spotify is bolstering artist development through initiatives like RADAR Arabia, EQUAL Arabia, and curated playlists such as Fresh Finds Arabia. These programmes help spotlight emerging talent while providing tools and analytics through Spotify for Artists to support long-term growth.
The report arrives amid a music boom across the Middle East and North Africa, with the region named the fastest-growing recorded music market in the world in 2024, according to the IFPI Global Music Report. Streaming was the primary growth engine, accounting for 99.5% of regional revenue.
With rising global demand and increased support for creators, Egyptian artists are turning digital momentum into cultural influence — and building sustainable careers in the process.
