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UMG And DGMC Collaborate To Establish “Music City” In The UAE
The partnership hopes to bolster the Middle East’s music community and promote industry growth with cutting-edge facilities and education academies.
In a significant move for the local music industry, Universal Music Group (UMG), a global leader in music-based entertainment, and DGMC, an emerging creative facility and global destination, have unveiled a strategic collaboration aimed at bolstering the music community in the Middle East.
The partnership aims to cultivate a vibrant and sustainable music ecosystem, with its flagship project, “Music City”, set to be established in the UAE. The initiative will serve as a regional center catering to both local talents and international artists and songwriters.
The collaboration includes the establishment of cutting-edge recording studios, the launch of educational academies, and the introduction of a comprehensive label dedicated to supporting local and regional artists across various facets of their careers, including recording, touring, branding, and merchandising.
At its core, the UMG-DGMC partnership is committed to fostering growth and nurturing the talents of artists and songwriters in the region, with a focus on unlocking their creative and commercial potential.
Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairwoman of DGMC, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with UMG, the world’s leading music group, on this unique and exciting endeavor. Building a state-of-the-art music infrastructure and providing industry services to support aspiring musical artists is critical to our leadership’s vision to promote culture and the arts”.
Also Read: Best Music Streaming Services In The Middle East
Adam Granite, Executive Vice President of Market Development at Universal Music Group, added: “We have long recognized the potential in the Middle East and are incredibly proud to be working with world-class partners like DGMC. We share their excitement and vision to harness this potential and nurture the next generation of recording artists and songwriters. Our partnership will create a powerful platform for the incredible talent in the region and accelerate their careers at home and abroad”.
To make “Music City” a massive success, ambitious development plans include the construction of three new Capitol Studios recording studios, marking the first-ever expansion of Capitol Studios outside of Hollywood. These studios will feature cutting-edge facilities such as Dolby Atmos mixing rooms, recording studios, green rooms, writer’s rooms, and rehearsal studios. Additionally, a range of immersive music experiences for fans is in the pipeline.
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Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
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The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.