The shift of Egyptian singer Amr Diab from the Alam El Phan Music Production Company to Rotana Music Production Company was not as smooth as planned, but rather caused for a number of problems to arise due to the fact that Amr's demands kept increasing by the minute. Rotana had at first agreed to pay Amr the largest wage ever given to any singer by any production company reaching 5 million US dollars. But little did they know that Amr's demands would not stop there.
According to the London based daily, Al Quds Al Arabi, Amr had a list of conditions for Rotana, putting the company at a tight spot not knowing how to meet his demands without erupting problems with other singers who are already with them. Amr at first refused to release a new album under Rotana's production this summer saying the time is too soon for him to complete a second album, and said that the soonest time he is willing to release an album is during the Christmas season. The singer also requested that he will only undergo the recording process of his new album in London and under strict security to ensure that no pirating of the album will occur before its scheduled release, a matter which is certain to cost the company loads of money.
Amr also demanded that Rotana shall not release any other album for any singer two weeks prior to him, so as not to be compared with anyone. The singer set an advertising budget for his upcoming album to be no less than 1 million Egyptian pounds, with commercials, banners and the like spread throughout the Arab world in addition to clips from the album aired at least 20 times per day on Egyptian and other satellite television stations.
The singer also insisted that Rotana provide a new BMW car for him, just like all the other 75 singers received, even though he was not present at the time the company had presented its singers with the cars.
All these demands made by Amr caused a number of singers to stir some commotion as well, saying that they are no less than he, feeling that if the company obeys all of Amr's demands then they have some things in mind as well and want to see happen. This in turn caused the company to feel at a lost not knowing if to meet Amr's conditions in turn become obliged to meet those of others or to try and talk Amr into lessening some of his demands and meet some middle ground.
Previously, a war borke out between Amr and Muhsin Jaber, owner of Alam El Phan, in which the latter stressed that Amr’s move is not as simple as the singer thinks and still has many legal issues pending that must be resolved before the new company takes over his work.
After Amr’s unexpected move to Rotana, Muhsin transformed into Amr’s worst enemy and is placing the best interest of his company in front of everything else, disregarding the fact that Amr was the reason behind the company’s success and brought it the most profit.
Muhsin had at first taken the news of Amr’s move calmly as if no harm was done, but later on stressed that the contract between his company and Amr is very clear and according to it the singer can not abort the contract until he fulfils all its conditions which say that the singer must submit two more albums before the end of his terms with the company which is on December 31, 2003. If Amr does not abide by the contract, Muhsin has every right legally to freeze any new work by Amr in turn forbidding the new company from producing anything by the singer.
Contradicting what many thought that Muhsin will be drawn into negotiating a settlement price with Amr and peacefully dropping the issue, Muhsin has revealed that he will not agree to any deal and will in fact freeze all of Amr’s work until he is provided with two more albums by the singer. The matter has also Rotana on the line after paying the singer 5 million US dollars to sign a contract, and since literally the singer needs at least two years to produce two albums a matter that can not keep Rotana quiet.
Muhsin stressed that he is not the one who put Amr in this situation, but the singer did it to himself and needs to pay the consequences for his actions. On the other hand, Amr feels that what he has done is 100 percent legal and he does not owe Muhsin anything after the contract ends.
The issue remains unsolved between the two men and will eventually be resolved in court. The once good friend of Amr has now turned against him in ways like revealing facts about the singer that show the weaker side of him. Muhsin has announced that the singer as a person is not capable of achieving the success he has reached, but it was the company that worked on creating him a star around the world.
Amr's latest album "Alim Albi Al Gharam" features twelve songs, which were written by a number of prominent poets. The new album features Amr in a new look and music styles. He combined Tango, Jazz, Techno, and eastern genres all in one. “Alim Albi Al Gharam” is shot in London. –Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
