Music Licensing in Saudi Arabia: Rights, Royalties, and the Regulatory Framework

Music licensing in Saudi Arabia operates within a regulatory framework that is simultaneously one of the newest and most rapidly evolving in the world. The Kingdom’s entertainment sector licensing infrastructure was essentially built from scratch starting in 2016 with the establishment of the General Entertainment Authority, and the intervening years have seen continuous refinement of the rules, institutions, and enforcement mechanisms that govern how music is created, performed, distributed, and monetized.

Understanding this framework is essential for anyone operating in the Saudi music market — whether you are an international artist negotiating a performance contract, a local label seeking to distribute music through streaming platforms, a venue operator hosting live events, or a brand looking to license music for advertising campaigns. The licensing landscape is complex, multi-layered, and subject to ongoing regulatory evolution, but the fundamental structures are now sufficiently established to provide a clear operational framework.

The GEA Licensing Architecture

The General Entertainment Authority serves as the primary regulatory body for entertainment licensing in Saudi Arabia. The GEA’s licensing framework, codified in the Regulation for Licensing and Supervising Entertainment and Support Activities (originally issued in 2018 and updated in 2023), establishes three categories encompassing ten types of licenses that cover the full spectrum of entertainment activities in the Kingdom.

The licensing system is designed to be comprehensive without being prohibitively restrictive. The GEA recognizes that the entertainment sector’s growth depends on maintaining a licensing process that encourages investment and activity while ensuring compliance with the Kingdom’s cultural norms and safety standards. The 2023 update to the regulations reflects lessons learned from the rapid scaling of the entertainment sector since 2019, incorporating more nuanced requirements that reflect the industry’s growing complexity.

For music-specific activities, the licensing requirements vary based on the nature and scale of the event or operation. A small acoustic performance at a café requires different licensing than a 40,000-person stadium concert featuring an international headliner. The GEA’s framework acknowledges this spectrum by providing different license types with corresponding obligations, documentation requirements, and compliance standards.

The licensing application process requires the submission of specifications and documents that demonstrate compliance with GEA requirements. These documents typically include event details, venue information, artist information, security and safety plans, and evidence of financial capacity to execute the proposed activity. The GEA reviews applications against its regulatory standards and may impose conditions or modifications as part of the approval process.

License Categories and Requirements

The ten license types within the GEA’s three categories cover a range of entertainment activities. While the specific details of each license type are detailed in the regulatory documents, the general framework operates as follows.

Event licenses cover temporary entertainment activities, including concerts, festivals, and musical performances. These licenses require detailed event planning documentation, proof of venue compliance with safety standards, artist information including content review for international performers, and security arrangements. The licensing timeline varies based on event scale, with major events requiring longer lead times for review and approval.

Facility licenses cover permanent or semi-permanent entertainment venues, including concert halls, music venues, and performance spaces. These licenses carry ongoing compliance obligations including regular safety inspections, capacity management, and adherence to noise and operational standards.

Support activity licenses cover services that support the entertainment sector, including production companies, sound and lighting providers, event management firms, and other technical service providers. These licenses ensure that the supply chain supporting the music industry meets quality and safety standards.

The 2023 regulatory update introduced more detailed provisions for specific entertainment subcategories, reflecting the sector’s maturation. The update also refined the penalty structure for violations, ranging from warning issuance to facility shutdown, activity suspension, license withdrawal, and inclusion on a banned list. This graduated enforcement approach allows the GEA to respond proportionally to violations while maintaining a credible deterrent against non-compliance.

Intellectual Property and Copyright Protection

Music copyright protection in Saudi Arabia falls under the jurisdiction of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP). The copyright framework protects the intellectual property rights of musicians, composers, producers, and other music creators, with an emphasis on ensuring fair compensation for music use.

The copyright regime covers several categories of rights relevant to the music industry. Composition rights protect the underlying musical work — the melody, harmony, and lyrics created by a songwriter or composer. Recording rights protect the specific recorded performance of a musical work. Performance rights protect the public performance of music, whether live or through broadcast and streaming. Mechanical rights cover the reproduction of musical works in physical or digital formats.

SAIP’s enforcement of these rights has strengthened considerably in recent years, driven by the government’s recognition that a thriving creative industry requires robust intellectual property protection. The Kingdom’s accession to international intellectual property agreements and its alignment with WIPO standards have created a framework that international rights holders increasingly recognize as credible.

The practical challenge of music rights enforcement in Saudi Arabia mirrors challenges faced globally: the digital environment creates opportunities for unauthorized use that are difficult to detect and enforce against. However, the Kingdom’s centralized regulatory structure — where a relatively small number of licensed platforms and venues account for the majority of legal music consumption — provides enforcement advantages that more fragmented markets lack.

Royalty Collection and Distribution

The royalty collection and distribution infrastructure in Saudi Arabia is still maturing but has made significant progress. Esmaa, a music rights company, has partnered with MDLBEAST to handle royalty payments at MDLBEAST events, ensuring that composers and rights holders are compensated when their music is performed at festivals and concerts. This partnership represents an important model for the broader industry, demonstrating that large-scale live events can operate with proper rights management and royalty distribution.

For streaming royalties, the major platforms (Spotify, Anghami, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube) each have their own royalty calculation and distribution mechanisms. Spotify’s Loud & Clear initiative provides transparency into how royalties are calculated and distributed, with the Saudi-specific report showing that $3.5 million in royalties flowed to Saudi artists in 2024. Anghami operates a similar per-stream royalty model, with rates that vary based on subscription tier and market.

The absence of a unified performing rights organization comparable to ASCAP, BMI, or PRS creates a gap in the royalty collection infrastructure for live performances and broadcast uses. While individual partnerships like the Esmaa-MDLBEAST arrangement address specific use cases, the broader market lacks a comprehensive collection mechanism that ensures all public performances of music generate royalties for rights holders. Addressing this gap is likely to be a priority for the Saudi Music Commission as the live event sector continues to scale.

Mechanical royalties — payments for the reproduction of musical works — are increasingly relevant as Saudi labels like MDLBEAST Records expand their catalog. With 159 singles, four albums, and nine EPs released, and 200 million-plus streams accumulated, the royalty flows associated with recorded music are becoming economically significant for the first time in the Kingdom’s history.

Sync Licensing: Music in Visual Media

Sync licensing — the licensing of music for use in film, television, advertising, and other visual media — represents a growing revenue stream in Saudi Arabia. MDLBEAST Records’ partnership with Telfaz11 for music licensing across feature films and original productions is the most visible example of this market developing.

The sync licensing opportunity in Saudi Arabia is driven by several converging trends. The cinema industry, reopened in 2018, reached $240 million in revenue by 2023, creating demand for licensed music in domestic film productions. The growth of advertising spending as brands target the Kingdom’s young consumer base increases demand for licensed music in commercial campaigns. The development of a media ecosystem in Riyadh, including a planned media city, will further expand the visual media production that drives sync licensing demand.

For international rights holders, the Saudi sync licensing market presents both opportunity and complexity. The opportunity lies in the rapid growth of visual media production and advertising spending. The complexity relates to content standards — music used in visual media must comply with GEA and GAMR content guidelines, which may require modifications to lyrics or visual elements that would not be necessary in other markets.

The sync licensing process in Saudi Arabia typically involves direct negotiation between the music rights holder (or their representative) and the content producer. Master recording rights must be cleared with the record label, while publishing rights must be cleared with the publisher or songwriter. In cases involving international music, the process may require coordination across multiple jurisdictions, adding layers of complexity.

International Artist Licensing

The licensing requirements for international artists performing in Saudi Arabia have become one of the most closely watched aspects of the Kingdom’s music regulatory framework. International performers are permitted but must comply with GEA regulations that cover content, conduct, and presentation standards.

Content restrictions apply to explicit lyrics, which may be edited or prohibited. Suggestive content is restricted. Themes promoting drugs, violence, or immorality may be edited or banned. Content must comply with the Kingdom’s cultural norms, including dress codes. These restrictions are enforced through a content review process that occurs prior to event approval.

In practice, the application of these restrictions has evolved as the entertainment sector has matured. Major international artists from Eminem to Metallica to Cardi B have performed in the Kingdom, indicating that the content review process is navigable even for artists whose catalogs include explicit material. The typical approach involves creating a modified setlist that removes or alters the most explicit content while maintaining the artistic integrity of the performance.

The artist licensing process also involves immigration and visa requirements, tax obligations (including withholding tax considerations), and contract terms that comply with Saudi labor and commercial law. Management teams for international artists typically work with local promoters who understand the regulatory landscape and can navigate the approval process efficiently.

Performance fees for international artists performing in Saudi Arabia have attracted significant attention, with reports of premium fees reflecting both the market’s willingness to pay for top talent and the additional compliance and logistical requirements associated with performing in the Kingdom. As the market matures and Saudi Arabia becomes a routine stop on global touring circuits, these premiums are expected to moderate.

Broadcasting and Digital Distribution Licensing

The licensing framework for music broadcasting and digital distribution involves multiple regulatory bodies. The General Authority of Media Regulation (GAMR) regulates media content, monitors audiovisual media, and issues licenses for media broadcasting. This includes radio broadcasting, online streaming, and other digital distribution channels that carry music content.

The DAZN broadcasting deal for Riyadh Season events illustrates the commercial scale of broadcasting rights in the Saudi entertainment market. The exclusive partnership, announced in October 2024, covers all Riyadh Season-sponsored events, creating a centralized broadcasting channel that simplifies rights management while maximizing the commercial value of the content.

For music streaming platforms, operating in Saudi Arabia requires compliance with both GAMR and GEA regulations, as well as content moderation obligations that reflect the Kingdom’s standards. Platforms must ensure that their available catalog complies with content guidelines, which has led to the development of market-specific content filters and editorial policies.

MDLBEAST Radio operates as a licensed broadcasting platform within this framework, providing a music-focused channel that bridges traditional broadcast and digital streaming. The licensing requirements for such hybrid platforms reflect the regulatory system’s effort to accommodate new distribution models within the existing framework.

Venue Licensing and Live Performance Regulations

Venue licensing for live music performances involves compliance with multiple regulatory streams. The GEA’s facility licensing covers the entertainment aspects of venue operation. Building safety regulations cover structural requirements, fire safety, and emergency procedures. Noise regulations govern sound levels and operating hours. Crowd management requirements address capacity limits, security staffing, and emergency evacuation procedures.

The venue landscape in Riyadh has expanded rapidly, with purpose-built music venues now ranging from the 3,000-seat King Fahd Cultural Center to the 22,000-capacity Mohammed Abdo Arena to the 40,000-capacity Kingdom Arena. Each venue type carries different licensing requirements reflecting its scale and complexity.

Temporary venues and festival grounds, such as the Soundstorm Festival Grounds in Banban Desert, require specialized licensing that covers the construction of temporary structures, sound system installation, crowd management for hundreds of thousands of attendees, and environmental impact mitigation. The 14 stages and four districts of the 2025 Soundstorm edition illustrate the scale and complexity of temporary venue licensing in the Saudi market.

The Arena near Granada Mall (8,000 capacity, 6,000 square meters), Abu Bakr Salem Stage (outdoor), King Saud University Stadium (25,000 capacity), and The Venue (purpose-built for Riyadh Season 2024) each represent different venue categories with corresponding licensing profiles. The regulatory framework must accommodate this diversity while maintaining consistent safety and quality standards.

Emerging Licensing Issues

Several licensing issues are likely to become increasingly important as the Saudi music industry matures. Music use in the metaverse and virtual reality environments raises questions about how existing licensing frameworks apply to immersive digital experiences. AI-generated music creates challenges for copyright attribution and rights management. Cross-border streaming in the GCC region complicates territorial licensing arrangements.

The growth of the gaming and esports sector — projected to contribute $13.3 billion to Saudi GDP by 2030 — creates new licensing demands for music used in game soundtracks, streaming content, and virtual events. The PIF’s investments in gaming companies suggest that this intersection will become commercially significant.

Brand partnerships between music artists and commercial sponsors raise questions about endorsement licensing, image rights, and the interaction between commercial use and content guidelines. As the sponsorship market grows at a 13.33 percent CAGR, the licensing frameworks governing these arrangements will need to evolve.

The Saudi Music Commission’s regulatory role is likely to expand to address these emerging issues. The Commission’s mandate to regulate the sector positions it to develop licensing standards that keep pace with technological and commercial evolution, ensuring that the regulatory framework supports rather than constrains the industry’s growth.

Practical Guidance for License Applicants

For organizations and individuals seeking music licenses in Saudi Arabia, several practical considerations apply. Early engagement with the GEA is advisable, particularly for large-scale events that require complex licensing. The regulatory environment, while increasingly streamlined, still involves multiple approval chains that benefit from adequate lead time.

Local partnerships are valuable for navigating the licensing landscape. Saudi-based promoters, event management companies, and legal advisors with experience in the entertainment licensing system can significantly reduce the time and complexity of the approval process. The 95 percent local company participation rate in Riyadh Season 2024 reflects the importance of local partners in the Saudi entertainment ecosystem.

Documentation requirements should be taken seriously. The GEA’s licensing framework requires detailed submissions, and incomplete applications create delays. Investing in thorough documentation upfront — including content reviews, safety plans, financial projections, and artist information — streamlines the approval process and reduces the risk of conditional approvals that require subsequent modifications.

Compliance monitoring is ongoing, not just pre-event. The GEA’s regulatory framework includes provisions for ongoing supervision of licensed activities, and violations discovered during events can result in immediate enforcement actions. Organizations should budget for compliance staffing and systems that ensure continuous adherence to license conditions.

The licensing landscape in Saudi Arabia is a work in progress, evolving in real time as the music industry grows and diversifies. The fundamental direction is toward a more comprehensive, transparent, and commercially viable framework that supports the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global music and entertainment destination while maintaining its cultural and regulatory distinctiveness.