Universal Music France opens Morocco branch

Universal Music France has opened a branch in Morocco to produce Moroccan artists and develop new supply and distribution networks, sources at the multinational firm said.

Chairman of the group, Pascal Negre, said the Casablanca branch will serve as a platform for cultural and music distribution in north Africa. Moroccan artists will have a chance to enjoy the same marketing conditions as their western peers, he told a press conference.

He added that artists will have access to the Casablanca "Platinium Music" studios and their rights will be protected.

It will also sell to Moroccan music buffs the latest hits and novelties simultaneously as in Europe.

For the Manager of the Casablanca Platinium music, audio tapes will be sold at 24 DH (around 2.4 Euros) while CDs will be sold at a price ranging between 39 and 200 DH (3.9 Euros and 20), which is 30% lower than in international markets.

He added that the new store will be selling its products through the agencies of Maroc-Telecom (Morocco's land and mobile phone operator).

Some 20 million audio tapes (including 2 millions exported to Algeria) and 4 million CDs were sold in the Moroccan market in 2003.