A&R Manager, MENA

Role mission

This position focuses on finding, signing, and nurturing artists, producers, and independent labels for FreshTunes’ Select catalogue. The goal is to strengthen the regional pipeline of commercially viable repertoire, with particular attention to MENA-pop, Khaleeji, Egyptian shaabi and mahraganat, Arabic hip-hop, Levantine indie, and Maghreb urban sounds.

Key responsibilities

• Discover talent through social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, along with local platforms, live showcases, clubs, and music competitions; Snapchat is especially important in Saudi Arabia.
• Maintain and manage the candidate pipeline, then handle signing discussions for FreshTunes offerings including distribution, label services, and marketing.
• Run the full release process from planning through to execution, including release strategy, marketing materials, and coordination with the Account team for DSP promotion.
• Monitor regional chart performance and the competitive landscape, including names such as Mass Appeal Arabia, Empire MENA, and Universal Arabia.
• Guide artists on metadata quality, creative presentation, and release planning.
• Prepare and submit monthly A&R updates to headquarters.

Requirements

• 3 to 5 years of experience in A&R, label operations, artist management, or music marketing within the MENA region.
• Strong understanding of the music markets in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and the Levant, including new artists, current tracks, and rising producers.
• Arabic at native level, with understanding of two to three dialects.
• Fluent English communication skills.
• A live portfolio or case studies showing artists signed or developed, along with measurable growth results such as streams and follower increases.
• A well-developed network of artists, managers, producers, and music journalists across the region.
• Good knowledge of streaming performance indicators, including monthly listeners, save rate, skip rate, and playlist conversion.
• Strong trend awareness and the ability to identify potential hits before they gain wider traction.

Nice to have

• Previous experience with a label or distributor that manages a MENA catalogue.
• Practical understanding of sync licensing.
• Experience handling playlists or soundboards on DSP platforms.
• Awareness of sharia-compliance considerations relevant to the KSA market.
• A visible professional presence in the industry, such as publications, speaking events, or expert recognition.

KPIs and variable compensation

• Number of artists or labels signed each quarter.
• Average streaming performance of signed artists after 6 and 12 months.
• Hit rate, measured by the share of releases placed in editorial playlists on DSPs.
• Revenue generated per signing.
• Year-over-year retention of artists in the catalogue.