French music streaming service Deezer will focus on local Arabic content in the MENA region in order to overcome fierce competition from global rivals YouTube and Spotify, according to CEO Hans-Holger Albrecht. Deezer and Spotify's MENA launches took place just three weeks apart, with the Paris-based firm having a head start in October, Arabian Business reported. Albrecht said Deezer is not afraid of the competition, as it focuses heavily on the region.
In August, Deezer partnered with the Arab region's largest record label, Rotana, to offer users a wide selection of Arabic hits and access to local content from music production group Mazzika and Saudi-based telecom provider Qanawat, in addition to 53 million tracks from global artists. In the same month, it raised USD 186 million more funds from investors including the Saudi-based Holding Company (KHC) and French telecoms company Orange.
Deezer will open its Dubai headquarters by 2019, followed by a number of regional offices in the coming years. The platform estimates profitability by 2021 as it is boosted by new markets including MENA. Albrecht said Deezer has been going through a "big journey" of change in the past three-and-a-half years, having focused on partnerships with telecom operators to offer better customer service and product engagement, adding that "a lot of changes" are yet to come to the platform.