Cafe De Anatolia signs publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing 

Cafe De Anatolia, the electronic music brand from North Macedonia, has signed a global publishing administration agreement with Sony Music Publishing MENA. The deal marks one of the most significant publishing agreements ever secured by an Eastern European music brand. Sony announced the partnership with the words “Welcome Home” on social media, signaling a shared vision to connect global sounds with wider audiences.

The agreement brings together Sony’s reach and infrastructure with Cafe De Anatolia’s position as one of the most influential names in Organic House, Ethnic Deep House, and Oriental Chill. Since its founding in 2017 by Monika Ilieva, Zoran Iliev (Billy Esteban), and Nikola Iliev (Nickarth / Rialians On Earth), the label has built a worldwide reputation for multicultural storytelling through electronic music.

Global Recognition and Record-Breaking Stats

In 2023, Cafe De Anatolia became the first Eastern European music brand to be promoted in New York’s Times Square. The brand has also amassed over 70 YouTube Creator Awards, with a network of more than 300 active channels generating over 1 billion views. This makes it one of the most viewed electronic music networks globally, and the most successful YouTube-driven brand of its genre in Eastern Europe.

The label also operates the largest Spotify network in its field, with millions of monthly listeners across curated playlists, artist radios, and original releases. Flagship artists Rialians On Earth and Billy Esteban are currently the most-streamed Macedonian musicians worldwide.

Cafe De Anatolia’s catalog includes more than 10,000 original tracks, the largest in the Organic House and Ethno-Electronic genres. With over 50 sub-labels and collaborations with more than 4,000 artists and songwriters, it maintains a scale of production and licensing rarely seen in independent electronic music.

Industry Milestones and Future Goals

The Sony Music Publishing agreement follows a series of key milestones for the brand, including a nomination for Beatport’s “Hype Label of the Year,” recognition by Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine as the founders of Organic House, and high-profile syncs across global media.

For Sony, the signing represents an opportunity to bring more regional talent to an international audience. Dounia Chaaban, Managing Director of Sony Music Publishing MENA, described the partnership as a chance to “build cultural bridges through music.” Daniel Nelson, SVP International at Sony Music Publishing, emphasized that it aligns with the company’s global vision for world music.

For founders Nikola, Monika, and Zoran, the deal confirms the label’s mission to take culturally rooted sounds to a global stage while inspiring independent artists. They see the agreement as a milestone not just for Cafe De Anatolia, but for the entire Eastern European music scene.

With its combination of deep cultural roots, digital innovation, and now global publishing infrastructure, Cafe De Anatolia is positioned to expand its influence even further. From Times Square billboards to Spotify charts, the label’s next chapter will be backed by one of the largest music publishing networks in the world.