IPNation and Influence Media Unveil $100M Investment Platform for Arabic Music IP in MENA

Influence Media Partners, a New York-based music and entertainment investment manager, has partnered to launch IPNation, the first investment platform exclusively dedicated to Arabic music catalogs and entertainment intellectual property (IP). The platform targets a $100 million investment size to acquire, develop, and grow iconic music and entertainment IP across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

IPNation was founded by Eddy Maroun, co-founder of Anghami, and Jose Maria Dot, former Chief Investment Officer of Multiply Group (now 2PointZero) and Managing Director at FTI Capital Advisors. The company is backed by Influence Media Partners, which specializes in acquiring and managing premier music and entertainment IP globally.

Influence Media Partners is led by Founder and Co-Managing Partner Lylette Pizarro McLean and maintains strategic partnerships with funds managed by BlackRock. Its portfolio includes works by prominent artists such as DJ Khaled, Future, and Enrique Iglesias.

Ram Kolluri, Head of Investments and Strategic Partnerships at Influence Media Partners, emphasized the significance of this partnership: "This marks an important step in the evolution of Influence Media. We’ve long believed that premium music IP is a global asset class, and the Middle East represents one of the most exciting opportunities for long-term growth. IPNation combines deep regional expertise with a compelling vision for the future of Arabic music and entertainment IP. Together, we believe we can create lasting value for creators, rights holders, and audiences across the region and beyond."

Jose Maria Dot, CEO of IPNation, highlighted the undervalued nature of Arabic music and entertainment IP: "Arabic music and entertainment IP represent one of the most undervalued cultural asset classes globally today. IPNation was created to institutionalize investment into iconic and predictable income-generating IP while generating upside through our IPNation Value Creation Playbook, bringing our music to larger audiences efficiently. We believe the Middle East is entering a new era where culture itself becomes a scalable financial asset."

Headquartered in the UAE, IPNation focuses on investing in music masters, publishing rights, artist brands, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights, and entertainment IP originating from the Arab world. Beyond acquisitions, the company plans to actively develop these assets into multi-format entertainment franchises, including immersive experiences, live shows, films, documentaries, merchandise, gaming, licensing, AI-powered derivatives, and next-generation fan engagement.

Eddy Maroun, Chairman and Chief Innovation Officer of IPNation, stated, "For decades, Arabic music created massive cultural impact but very little long-term ownership value for the region itself. IPNation changes that. We are not only acquiring catalogs; we are building a platform that transforms Arabic IP into global entertainment franchises across music, live experiences, storytelling, gaming, AI, and beyond."

The launch of IPNation comes amid a global surge in music catalog investments, yet Arabic music and entertainment IP remain significantly underrepresented in institutional portfolios despite the region’s deep cultural influence and rapidly growing digital consumption.

To address this gap, IPNation is actively evaluating acquisition opportunities across legacy music catalogs, publishing assets, artist estates, entertainment rights, and culturally significant intellectual property throughout the MENA region.

This initiative represents a pioneering effort to institutionalize investment in Arabic music IP, aiming to unlock new financial and cultural value for creators and rights holders in the region.