Coke Studio Bel 3arabi Season 2 to Debut on MBC4

The region’s first music fusion show continues to build cultural bridges through the art of music

Dubai, UAE- April 24, 2013: Following the region-wide success of Season 1, Coke Studio “Bel 3arabi” (in Arabic) is set to captivate the viewers and pump up the region when its second season debuts on MBC4 on April 25th. The show is a unique creation and production by Coca-Cola and enhanced through a partnership with the world’s music leader, Universal Music, and the region’s leading broadcasting network, MBC Group. It provides a unique platform where multiple fusions are celebrated, including the fusion of East and West, generations, cultures and musical genres.

Each episode delves into the lives of the artists and their music genre of choice, while showing behind the scenes footage of artists singing songs for the first time and pushing their boundaries in both musical talent and cultural understanding.

Commenting on Coca-Cola’s ambitions for the second season, Antoine Tayyar, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Coca-Cola Middle East said: “Coca-Cola is all about providing refreshing experiences and spreading happiness while uniting people. This is why we’re looking to widen the program’s footprint for the second season. We want to raise the profile of Arabic music on the global stage and the level of cross cultural conversation further this year.”

Patrick Boulos, Managing Director, Universal Music MENA added, “We are very proud of the association with Coca-Cola and MBC Group. The Coke Studio project was one of the most challenging yet exciting experiences that we have ever done in this region as it is the first time ever that we managed to bridge East and West and produce smashing hit tracks with such an incredible assembly of global and local superstars.”

Coke Studio “Bel 3arabi” Season 2 will further build on the success of the first season launched last year, which paired regional and international artists together creating an original fusion song meshing two or more unique genres of music. This year, the show will maintain the momentum created in Season 1, and will bring together some of the region’s and the world’s favorite artists such as Sherine and Nelly who will join forces on the first episode of Coke Studio to develop a unique fusion tune.

Hadi Sharara, Music Producer/Arranger of Coke Studio “Bel 3arabi” Season 2 said: “Today people in the region are more educated about fusion music, so the challenge of working with the most talented stars in the region and around the globe to bring out the best music of both worlds was very exciting”.

The show will be presented by one of the region’s favourite singers from the younger generation, Abdulfatah Grini, alongside Lebanese TV presenter Bruna Tohme.

Clips from Coke Studio ”Bel 3arabi” Seasons 1 and 2, in addition to behind the scenes footage of the artists, can be watched on the Coke Studio “Bel 3arabi” website; YouTube Channel, in addition to the Facebook page and Twitter.

Coke Studio Bel 3arabi will debut on MBC4 on April 25th at 8:00 PM KSA and 5:00 PM GMT.

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world’s most valuable brand, our Company’s portfolio features 15 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or check out our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com.

About MBC Group
MBC Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World which was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters in Dubai in 2002. Over the past 21 years, MBC Group has grown to become a well-established media group that enriches people’s lives through information, interaction and entertainment. Based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, MBC Group includes 12 television channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment), MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour movies), MBC3 (children’s entertainment), MBC4 (entertainment for new Arab women), MBC Action (an indigenous Channel with local and homegrown productions), MBC Persia (24-hour movie channel dubbed in Farsi) , Al Arabiya (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); Al Arabiya Al Hadath (an extension of Al Arabiya News Channel)； Wanasah (24-hour Arabic music channel);MBC DRAMA

offers 24/7 Arabic Drama; and MBC MASR (general family entrainment channel geared towards the Egyptian family).The Group also includes two radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music), and Panorama FM (contemporary Arabic hit music); as well as O3 productions, a specialized documentary production unit. It has also several online platforms: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net, www.shahid.net (the first free VOD and catch up portal in the Arab world) and www.actionha.net, among others.

As of July 2011, seven of MBC Group’s channels began to air in HD across the MENA Region; the channels are: MBC 1, MBC 2, MBC 4, MBC Action, MBC Drama, MBC Max and Al Arabiya News Channel. Moreover, MBC3 has recently started airing in HD to its audience across the region.

About Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is the global music leader with strong market positions in recorded music, music publishing, and merchandising. It is the world’s leading music company with wholly owned record operations and licensees in more than 59 territories amongst which the Middle East & North Africa represented by its main office established in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2011 to further develop its repertoire through endorsing unique Arabic talents as well as well-established stars in the region. The recorded music business discovers and develops recording artists and then markets and promotes their music across a wide array of formats and platforms. UMG’s music publishing company, Universal Music Publishing Group, discovers and develops songwriters, and owns and administers copyrights to musical compositions for use in recordings, public performances, and related uses, such as films and advertisements. Bravado, UMG’s merchandising company, sells artist- and music-branded products via multiple sales point such as fashion retail, live performances, and the internet.