Sout El-Hob Records

Sout El-Hob Records is an Egyptian record label and entertainment company founded in 1972 by producer Atef Montasser. Its name derives from the Arabic expression for “the voice of love.” The company became associated with the production, recording, cassette release, and distribution of Arabic music, while also operating a film-distribution activity under the Sout El-Hob Movies name. Its historical catalog spans Egyptian popular music, Arabic art song, religious recitation, instrumental music, and recordings connected with the revival of older Egyptian musical traditions. Montasser’s role was particularly important in talent discovery and artist development. Sout El-Hob recorded early releases by Hany Shaker and was credited with helping launch or advance the careers of performers including Ahmed Adaweyah, Aziza Jalal, Mohamed Fouad, Medhat Saleh, and Metkal Kenawy. The label also worked with Warda Al-Jazairia and produced her 1977 film Ah Ya Liel Ya Zaman. Other notable recordings associated with the company include music by Omar Khairat, religious recitations by Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary and Sheikh al-Tablawi, and early-career material by Mohammed Abdu. The company was also involved in ensemble and crossover projects. In the 1970s, Montasser worked with composer Hani Shenouda to establish El-Masryeen Band. The group’s first cassette, released in 1977, contained eight short songs and was recorded over an extended production period using imported cassette tape. Montasser also helped establish Four M with Ezzat Abu Ouf and his sisters. These projects reflected Sout El-Hob’s role not only as a conventional label but also as a platform for new groups, composers, arrangers, and contemporary interpretations of Egyptian musical culture. In 1984, British music company EMI selected Sout El-Hob as a production partner for the Arab world. The partnership continued for six years and connected the Egyptian company with a broader regional music infrastructure. Sout El-Hob subsequently became associated with one of the largest Arabic music catalogs in the Middle East and North Africa, described in reference material as the region’s fourth-largest Arabic music catalog. Its distribution activities have included music from artists and labels outside its own core roster, including releases by major Arabic performers. The company’s ownership structure later changed. In 2015, Sherif Montasser, Atef Montasser’s nephew, assumed ownership and chief executive responsibilities through Sout El-Hob Entertainment, a company owned by Dozzan Music Group. Reference material also states that the label was eventually acquired by Mazzika Group, although the relationship between that acquisition and the later Dozzan ownership structure is not fully documented in the supplied sources. Sout El-Hob therefore remains best understood as a historically significant Egyptian Arabic-music catalog and rights brand whose activities include music production, catalog exploitation, artist distribution, and selected film distribution.

Sout El-Hob Records was established in Egypt in 1972 by Atef Montasser. The company emerged during a period when Egyptian music was increasingly distributed through commercially produced cassette recordings, giving independent producers and labels new opportunities to circulate music beyond traditional radio and cinema channels. Sout El-Hob developed into a producer, recorder, and distributor of Arabic music, while also handling selected film releases through the Sout El-Hob Movies name. Atef Montasser’s contribution was closely tied to identifying and developing performers. Sout El-Hob produced the first four releases of Hany Shaker and was credited with discovering or advancing artists such as Ahmed Adaweyah, Aziza Jalal, Mohamed Fouad, Medhat Saleh, and Metkal Kenawy. Montasser also worked with Warda Al-Jazairia and produced her 1977 film Ah Ya Liel Ya Zaman. The label’s repertoire included both contemporary popular music and recordings intended to preserve or renew earlier traditions. It recorded songs associated with Fayza Ahmed and Najat Al Saghira on cassette for the first time, and helped revive the musical legacy of Sayed Darwish through the work of Iman El Bahr Darwish. The company’s catalog was not limited to vocal pop. Sout El-Hob recorded music by composer and pianist Omar Khairat and issued religious-recitation material, including a large Quranic cassette set associated with Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary and Sheikh al-Tablawi. It also released early material by Mohammed Abdu, including the song Fe Aman Allah. This breadth helped make the company a significant repository of Egyptian and wider Arab musical recordings. Montasser participated in the formation of influential groups during the 1970s. After meeting composer Hani Shenouda, he helped establish El-Masryeen Band. Its first cassette appeared in 1977 with eight short songs. The project involved members including Mona Aziz, Eman Younis, Tahseen Yalmaz, Mamdouh Qassem, and Omar Fathi, with songwriting contributions from figures such as Salah Jahin and Omar Batesha. Montasser also worked with Ezzat Abu Ouf to establish Four M, a group formed by Abu Ouf and his sisters Mona, Maha, Manal, and Mervat. These collaborations reinforced Sout El-Hob’s identity as a company involved in artist formation as well as release management. In 1984, EMI chose Sout El-Hob as its production partner for the Arab world. The six-year relationship gave Sout El-Hob an international industry connection and expanded its role beyond a domestic Egyptian label. The company later became associated with the fourth-largest Arabic music catalog in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the supplied reference material. In addition to its own artists, Sout El-Hob distributed recordings connected with numerous prominent performers and labels, including Amr Diab, Fairuz, Tamer Hosny, Cheb Khaled, Sherine, Nancy Ajram, and others. Corporate control changed in the twenty-first century. In 2015, Sherif Montasser, Atef Montasser’s nephew, took over as owner and chief executive through Sout El-Hob Entertainment, identified as one of the companies owned by Dozzan Music Group. The supplied reference material also says that Sout El-Hob was eventually acquired by Mazzika Group, but it does not provide enough detail to establish the exact timing or present legal relationship between Mazzika, Dozzan, and Sout El-Hob Entertainment. The label’s documented legacy is therefore primarily that of a major Egyptian Arabic-music catalog, a talent-development institution, and a regional distribution business.

• 2015

  Sherif Montasser assumed ownership and CEO duties

  [1]Sout El-Hob Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Sherif Montasser took over the company through Sout El-Hob Entertainment.

• 1984

  EMI Arab-world partnership

  [1]Sout El-Hob Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  EMI selected Sout El-Hob as its production partner for the Arab world in a relationship that lasted six years.

• 1977

  El-Masryeen Band released its first cassette

  [1]Sout El-Hob Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The band formed by Atef Montasser and Hani Shenouda issued a debut cassette containing eight short songs.

• 1977

  Warda film production

  [1]Sout El-Hob Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Sout El-Hob produced Warda Al-Jazairia’s film Ah Ya Liel Ya Zaman.

• 1972

  Sout El-Hob Records founded

  [1]Sout El-Hob Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Atef Montasser founded the Egyptian record label and entertainment company.

A historically important Egyptian Arabic-music label centered on artist discovery, cassette-era production, catalog ownership, and regional distribution. Its repertoire combines Egyptian popular music, mainstream Arabic song, heritage revival, religious recordings, and film-related releases.

• Music catalog · 1972

  Arabic music catalog

  Sout El-Hob’s core asset is a broad Arabic-music catalog assembled through decades of production, recording, and distribution. It includes Egyptian popular music, mainstream Arabic song, heritage repertoire, instrumental works, and recordings by artists who became important figures in Egyptian and Arab music.

• Recorded music · 1972

  Cassette recordings

  During the cassette era, the company issued albums, songs, ensemble recordings, and religious material in cassette format. Its cassette activities included early releases by Hany Shaker and El-Masryeen Band, as well as recordings of established Egyptian and Arab performers.

• Film distribution

  Sout El-Hob Movies

  Sout El-Hob Movies was the name used for the company’s domestic and international distribution of films. The reference material specifically associates the activity with films distributed under the Sout El-Hob Movies name and with production of Warda Al-Jazairia’s 1977 film.

• Religious audio

  Quranic recitation recordings

  The company recorded and issued Quranic recitation material on cassette, including a large set associated with Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary and Sheikh al-Tablawi. The material forms part of the label’s wider religious and cultural archive.

• 2015

  Transfer ownership and executive control to Sherif MontasserOther

  Background

  Following the founding generation, the company underwent a family-linked ownership and management transition.

  Action taken

  Sherif Montasser, Atef Montasser’s nephew, assumed ownership and chief executive responsibilities through Sout El-Hob Entertainment.

  Aftermath

  The label was described as operating within a Dozzan Music Group company structure. The supplied sources also mention a later acquisition by Mazzika Group, but do not establish the complete sequence.

  Source

• 1984

  Enter a production partnership with EMIStrategy

  Background

  EMI sought a production partner for the Arab world, while Sout El-Hob had established experience in Egyptian and regional Arabic music.

  Action taken

  Sout El-Hob was selected to handle EMI-related production in the Arab world.

  Aftermath

  The partnership continued for six years and strengthened Sout El-Hob’s regional industry role.

  Source

• 2015

  Sherif Montasser took ownership and CEO responsibility for Sout El-Hob[1]Sout El-Hob Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Sherif Montasser, nephew of founder Atef Montasser, assumed ownership and chief executive responsibilities through Sout El-Hob Entertainment, described as a company owned by Dozzan Music Group.

• 1984

  EMI selected Sout El-Hob as its Arab-world production partner[1]Sout El-Hob Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  EMI partnered with Sout El-Hob to manage production for the Arab world. The partnership lasted six years.

1. 1Sout El-Hob Recordsen.wikipedia.org