In this episode of Shik Shak Shook Ones, hosts Danny Hajjar and Deana Soni delve into the listening habits of Arabic music fans across the diaspora and the Middle East and North Africa region. Joined by Salam Kmeid, Head of Content Marketing at Anghami, who brings 12 years of industry experience, the discussion covers popular artists, the impact of geography on music preferences, and the unique challenges faced by diaspora artists trying to break into the MENA market. They explore artists like Saint Levant, Elyanna, Amr Diab, Wegz, and talk about how music consumption varies across different regions. Salam also provides insights into major initiatives by Anghami to support emerging talents. Tune in to get a comprehensive look at the Arabic music scene both within and outside the MENA region.

00:00 Introduction to Regional Artists
00:35 Meet the Hosts and Guest
01:42 Diving into Listening Habits
02:43 Salam's Musical Preferences
06:19 Impact of Diaspora on Music
11:43 Top Artists in the Region
14:46 New Wave of Popular Artists
22:55 Diaspora Fans and Language Barriers
23:47 Elyanna's Impact and Diaspora Connection
24:16 Challenges for Non-Arabic Speaking Artists
25:12 Success Stories: Anees and Others
25:43 Audience Demographics and Listening Habits
26:44 Funny Story About Elyanna's Cover
27:58 European vs US Success for Artists
31:16 Focus on Local vs Diaspora Artists
32:04 Initiatives to Support Local Talents
33:25 Breakthrough Artists and Their Impact
41:13 Upcoming Projects and Initiatives
43:24 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

Salam is the Head of Content Marketing at Anghami. With over 12 years in the music industry, she has led major campaigns, including exclusive deals with global icons like Amr Diab, while championing emerging talents through initiatives like Sawt Jdeed. Salam also spearheaded impactful projects like reintroducing Rotana's catalog and Anghami’s mental health-focused Sukoon campaign.

Connect with Salam 👉 https://www.instagram.com/salamkmeid/

#Anghami #SalamKmeid #ShikShakShookOnes #ArabMusicians #ArabicMusic #AmrDiab #Elyanna #SaintLevant #ArabAmericans #Diaspora

Theme Music 👉 Sleiman Damien https://www.instagram.com/sleimandamien/?hl=en

Hosted by: 
Deana Soni 👉 https://www.instagram.com/deana.soni/
& Danny Hajjar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/dannyghajjar/

Deana is a dedicated presenter and journalist with a special focus on highlighting the cultural richness of the MENA region and fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse voices within the community. In 2020, she launched the UK's first Arabic and North African radio show, which showcased and platformed talented artists from the regions and diaspora, before creating her new platform, WASTA, in 2024. Additionally, she was the official host for the Assassin's Creed Mirage podcast, which explored medieval Iraq and its rich history. Deana also created the viral show Musconceptions, which debunked myths about Islam through comedy and garnered over 10 million views on social media. 

Danny Hajjar is a music journalist based in Washington, DC writing about the emerging Arabic music scene and the new wave of artists from the Middle East, North Africa, and its diaspora communities. He runs the award-winning digital zine Sa’alouni El Nas, highlighting trends in the Arabic scene, profiling artists, and reviewing music.

FOLLOW & RATE SHIK SHAK SHOOK ONES:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w4MchHCMQEkjWBKGoveR9
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056901441

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4wJ-aikX6XQ-BNv5ph8bq2

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra