The Paper
Recently, Universal Music Group announced that it will launch a new "multi-label operation strategy", which aims to elevate Chinese music content to a new strategic focus, further increase the exploration and creation of Chinese musicians and music content, and look for the next generation of Chinese pop music superstars, in order to promote C-Pop's influence on the international stage. Universal Music Group thus became the first global "Big Three" record label to implement multi-label operations in China.
The first new labels to be launched include Republic Records, the "top" label in the European and American music scene, EMI China, which has witnessed a century of Chinese pop music, and PolyGram Records China, a synonym for Cantonese pop classics for half a century. The three legendary labels will work with Universal Music China to form a multi-label brand system.
Republic Records China was the label's first international branch. The label brings together some of the world's most popular and successful international superstars, including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Drake, The Weeknd, Post Malone and other contemporary superstars. Republic Records has ranked first seven times on the Billboard Global Music Label Chart over the past decade.
As a brand in the Chinese market for fifteen years, Universal Music China will continue to be the flagship label of Universal Music in China. The label brings together the most popular pop musicians in China, including two new musicians who achieved eye-catching results in 2020 - Chen Linong and Yang Yunqing. It is worth mentioning that Universal Music China will continue to act as an agent for the distribution of works by international musicians under Universal Music. In recent years, Republic Records/Universal Music's musician Taylor Swift has repeatedly set new sales records in China, becoming the highest-selling overseas musician in China, and her latest three studio albums have sold more than one million copies in China. Other overseas musicians under Universal Music include Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Shawn Mendes, Jessie J, Troye Sivan, and others. Universal Music's classical and jazz branches are also highly regarded, not only owning the long-established classical music labels Deutsche Grammophon and Decca, but also signing a number of top classical musicians in China, including Lang Lang, Wang Yujia, Yang Xuefei, Gina Alice, etc., and working closely with conductor Yu Long and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to launch the classical music live performance label Yellow Lounge.
EMI Records China, which has witnessed the history of Chinese pop music, has a history of more than 100 years. In the future, EMI Records will be committed to discovering new talents with singing potential in the domestic music market, and join EMI's lineup of artists led by famous singers such as Zhang Huimei, Rainie Yang, and Ai Yiliang.
Over the past half century, PolyGram Records China, synonymous with Cantonese classics, has written a legendary history of Chinese pop music. After entering the mainland market, PolyGram Records will be committed to discovering local singer-songwriters/singers, and will become the same as Tam Wing Lin, Chan Wai Yin, Lo Kwan Ting, Chan Wai Lin and other musicians.
Many of Universal Music's greater China labels will also work with local digital platforms to deepen cooperation in content licensing, creative marketing, etc., and Universal Music Group's global network will also provide support to promote Chinese music to reach a wider audience around the world. In recent years, Universal Music Greater China has successively carried out licensing cooperation with major digital partners in the regional market to ensure that Universal Music's high-quality and massive music library can reach users to the greatest extent.
Editor-in-Charge: Chen Shihuai
Proofreader: Yan Zhang