Shock and failure of big names can be the real logo for the past season of the Egyptian music market, with the occurrence of many surprises that were the most unusual in the past ten years.
The year 2003 witnessed the lowest number of production of music albums in the past ten years (95), compared to last season where 190 albums were produced and 430 albums the season before that. This fallback in numbers of produced albums implies some form of danger for the entire music production industry in Egypt.
Concerning the music satellite channels competition, the new phenomenon was the disappearance of musical albums and the new trend of solo works by new singers. The number reached 42 new faces in the industry, which were the major concentration of competition between the different channels that also reached seven new ones. The channels that have come into being are Rotana, Melody, Nujoum TV, Nagham, Zein, Mazikka, and Melody Arabia.
This dramatic rise of musical satellite channels and people being busy watching them and the bad economical condition all gathered to affect the whole album market negatively.
All combined factors are what made a new comer like young singer Shireen make a great success on the account of the failure of prominent singer Amr Diab. When her new song “Garhi Tani” (Another Heartbreak) witnessed great success over Amr’s hit “Alem Albi Algaram” (Teach My Heart to Love). To be followed by the failures of other popular singers like Ehab Tawfiq in his album (Laih Alkhisam), Mustafa Amar in his album (Rohi Feek) and Mohammed Fuad in his album (Sharini). This proves that there is a major transformation in the whole generation with regards to musical taste. However, some stars managed to keep their success like Mohammed Munir in his album “Ahmar Safayef” (Red Lips).
The music market did witness some good sales, despite the recession it is witnessing. Angham in her album “Omri Ma’ak” sold more than 150 thousand copies, while Latifa who came back to the spotlights in her album “Ma Trouhshi Bi’eed” sold more than 100 thousand copies. Same number of copies where sold from the albums of Shima’ Sa’eed, and Lebanon Nancy Ajram, Haifa Wahbi, Marwah, and Miriam Farsi.
This year also witnessed the retreat of old generation in front of the new stars that entered the world of singing for the first time. Among those who witnessed major success from their first song where Mohammed Hamaki in his song “Bitedhak”, Louai in his song “Ah Ya Leil Ya Ain”, and Marwah in her song “Ama Na’eema”. Also Rubi in her one and only musical video clip “Inta Aref Leih” and the star maker winner for this year Shahinaz in her album “Ala Eih” and super star winner Diana Karazon.
Composer Hilmi Baker commented on this season saying that it did not add any value to the world of music and art. On the contrary, it witnessed the occurrence of some musical channel satellites, which shows songs with flaw words and bad tunes and lots of nudity.
Poet Mustafa Damrani sees that we are in a transitional era, which lacks logic and common sense. Adding that no one knows what are the bases of success and failure because the rules of the game are changing. –Albawaba.com
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
