Tag: Music

London, England – Amazon Music and WPP have launched “Louder Than Cancer,” a campaign that brings together global artists to raise awareness for World Cancer Day. Developed with creative input from WPP’s Grey Health, talent marketing agency FIMI Group, and the Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab, the initiative uses music to highlight the impact of cancer and support those affected.

The “Louder Than Cancer” initiative builds on “The Most Beautiful Sound,” which first captured the sound of cancer cells being destroyed as a symbol of hope and progress. It raises awareness through a dedicated Amazon Music playlist featuring artists like Melissa Etheridge, Imagine Dragons, H.E.R., and Blake Shelton.

Each track incorporates personal stories from artists such as Melissa Etheridge, Scotty McCreery, H.E.R., Lainey Wilson, and The Head and The Heart, alongside the recorded sound of cancer cells being destroyed. First unveiled at an oncology conference in June 2023, this sound now gains new meaning through music.

Speaking on the campaign, American singer-songwriter H.E.R. said, “Late last year, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. We were very blessed that they caught it early and she got surgery in February to remove part of her lung. She’s been such a warrior, such a fighter. I’m so proud to call her my mom, and I’m proud to join the fight against this affliction through ‘Louder Than Cancer’.”

Andre Stapleton, global head of artist & label relations and head of music for North America at Amazon Music, also said, “We’re incredibly excited to come together with artists from around the globe to support this impactful initiative. Music has the power to connect, inspire, and heal. We believe this campaign and the incredible artists we’ve been fortunate to work with will make a meaningful contribution in the fight against cancer by bringing awareness and fundraising to help find a cure for this terrible disease.”

Expanding on Grey Health’s creative for “The Most Beautiful Sound,” Amazon Music and the Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab also created custom merchandise featuring artists from the “Louder Than Cancer” initiative. The front design combines an image of a cancer cell being destroyed with a sound wave, while the back lists participating artists and brands. Customers can personalise the sound wave using a special tool.

Furthermore, the Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab is expanding the campaign’s reach through a custom landing page on Amazon.com, placements on Fire TV, and a billboard in Times Square.

“‘Louder Than Cancer’ is a powerful demonstration of what it means to pair innovation with worthy social causes. We were thrilled to work with Amazon Music, WPP, and musicians around the world to bring hope to so many people impacted by cancer,” said Kate McCagg, director of Brand Innovation Lab at Amazon Ads.

“Cancer treatment can save lives, but music has a unique power—it reaches the heart in ways medicine alone cannot. It connects to our emotions, bringing comfort, strength, and hope when we need it most. We’re incredibly proud of this collaborative effort and its potential impact,” added Bruno Rebelo, executive creative director of Grey Health New York.

The “Louder Than Cancer” playlist is now available on Amazon Music. For every stream, Amazon Music will donate $1 (up to $100,000) to Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, through the Stream It Forward Program.

Bruce Flohr, partner at FIMI Group and EVP at Red Light Management, commented, “Cancer is a fight that touches nearly everyone. By partnering with the artist community, we believe this campaign will have a global impact, raising awareness that music is louder than cancer. This is a chance to make a real difference through the power of music and connect with fans on a deeper level.”

Wendy Lund, chief client officer at Health@WPP, also shared, “We are so honoured to work with Amazon Music and Amazon Ads on this monumental campaign to take the message of hope and resilience to patients and their caregivers in search of progress in this scourge of a disease. By integrating the sound of cancer cells being destroyed into powerful musical tracks, we are offering a tangible symbol of progress and a source of inspiration for those facing this extremely challenging journey.”

Singapore – Spotify has announced the anniversary celebrations for ‘K-Pop ON! (온),’ its global K-Pop flagship playlist dedicated to giving listeners a platform to discover and tune in to the best from the genre. 

To commemorate this milestone, the popular audio streaming subscription service will be launching a special series of Spotify Singles headlined by ENHYPEN, SHOWNU X HYUNGWON (of MONSTA X), and STAYC.

Centred around the theme of ‘My First K-Pop Crush’, these Spotify K-Pop ON! (온) Singles feature covers of songs by the sunbaes (senior artists) who first fueled their love for K-Pop. For Spotify, the campaign not just a nod to every fan’s journey into the genre, which began with that first K-Pop artist who made their heart flutter with their artistry and flair, but also a call to K-Pop fans around the world to join in the celebration of a shared passion for the genre, and the artists who started it all. 

With every single launch, listeners can also look forward to a series of exclusive bonus content on Spotify’s K-Pop ON! (온) Video Podcast and YouTube channels. From performance videos to behind-the-scenes content and more, Spotify will be letting fans in as we unpack the stories of the performing artists’ ‘First K-Pop Crushes,’ the significance behind their song selection, and how the original artists inspired their journey in K-Pop.

Jungjoo Park, head of music for Korea at Spotify, said, “Beyond the celebration of our commitment to helping K-Pop travel the globe and connecting Korean artists with fans and new audiences, Spotify’s K-Pop ON! (온) First Crush campaign is also a powerful expression of how K-Pop touches lives, spreads positivity, and unites listeners regardless of where they are from or the language they speak.”

She added, “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with ENHYPEN, SHOWNU X HYUNGWON, and STAYC to bring the first-ever Spotify K-Pop ON! (온) Singles to the world, and kickstart the movement in celebrating the shared love for the genre.”

Singapore – TikTok’s premium-only music streaming service TikTok officially makes it public launch in Singapore. The service was previously only made available closed group of beta testers in the market.

To coincide with the launch in Singapore, TikTok Music has added some new music discovery features, including Party It, for personalised collaborative listening, FYP Tuning, where users can swipe right for a choice of music scenes and moods, and Tonik, a music discovery personal assistant powered by ChatGPT, which provides answers to questions TikTok Music users have about music. 

Users can ask Tonik to search for an artist, track or playlist, ask about concerts and music news, learn about the stories behind the music, and much more.

According to the platform, TikTok Music harnesses the power of music discovery on TikTok, helping users to enjoy their favourite viral tracks and artists on TikTok Music, giving them the ability to listen, download and share full tracks to their community, and to transition between TikTok and TikTok Music seamlessly.

Ole Obermann, global head of music business development at TikTok, said, “We are pleased to publicly launch TikTok Music, a new kind of service that combines the power of music discovery on TikTok with a best-in-class streaming service. TikTok Music will make it easy for people to save, download and share their favourite viral tracks from TikTok.”

He added, “We are excited about the opportunities TikTok Music presents for both music fans and artists, and the great potential it has for driving significant value to the music industry.”

The new service offers music from thousands of labels and artists, uninterrupted ad-free listening and a download function for listening offline, as well as aiming to offer a listening experience while increasing opportunities and revenue for artists and rightsholders.

Malaysia – Warner Music Malaysia has named Dinesh Ratnam as its new managing director. He will be reporting to Chris Gobalakrishna and Jonathan Serbin, co-presidents of Warner Music Asia in this capacity. He will be a member of the regional executive team for Warner Music, where he will also play a crucial role.

Ratnam, who is based in Kuala Lumpur, will be in charge of overseeing Warner Music’s operations in Malaysia. He will oversee initiatives for strategic growth and work to improve the company’s market presence.

Ratnam offers years of experience from the content, technology, and entertainment sectors to his new role by drawing on his extensive industry background. He was part of the global expansion of iQiyi, a premium video on-demand streaming service, before he joined Warner Music.

In his time in iQiyi, he was the country manager for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei and worked as a senior director in the international business department there. Ratnam played an important role in the expansion of iQiyi in Southeast Asia by helping to establish the company’s presence there. 

Ratnam previously held a number of key positions at iflix, a video-on-demand service. He was helping in corporate development, business management, and the expansion of iflix’s operations in Malaysia during his time there. He also worked as a director in the CEO’s Office at Catcha Group, one of Southeast Asia’s internet groups. In this role, he was in charge of the group’s technology and media investments in Southeast Asia. 

At J.P. Morgan, Ratnam started his career as an investment banker. He worked for Morgan in the San Francisco and London offices. He focused on the media, telecommunications, and technology industries and offered advisory services for a range of transactions.

Speaking about his appointment, Ratnam said, “I am honoured and excited to join Warner Music Malaysia. Music is the heartbeat of modern media, weaving together stories, experiences, and emotions in ways that resonate with audiences, making it pivotal in shaping contemporary culture. This is a remarkable opportunity to collaborate with a talented team and further elevate the visibility and success of our artists both locally and globally.” 

He added, “I firmly believe in the immense potential of Malaysian music talent to further cultivate profound influence and impact beyond just the shores of the country. I look forward to leveraging Warner Music’s rich catalogue and resources to create new avenues for growth and innovation.” 

Meanwhile, Gobalakrishna said, “With its vibrant diversity and immense talent, the Malaysian music scene serves as a vital hub for cultural exchange and artistic expression. Dinesh’s appointment signifies our dedication to nurturing this thriving ecosystem. With his wealth of experience and innovative approach, we are confident that Dinesh will play a pivotal role in amplifying the influence of Malaysian music, fostering collaboration, and unlocking new opportunities for our artists across the region.”

Serbin expressed, “We are thrilled to have Dinesh on board. His extensive experience, strategic mindset, and passion for the industry make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. We have every confidence that Dinesh will play a vital role in driving Warner Music’s continued success in Malaysia.”

Singapore – Global audio streaming services platform Spotify has announced new personalised and curated experiences to observe the holy month of Ramadan. They include Ramadan-centric music, podcasts, and talk content dedicated to families and communities celebrating the holy season.

Listeners can also find personalised content on the “Your Ramadan 2023” playlist and see the music and talk content that is trending in their respective countries, and podcasters are constantly developing and publishing new Ramadan-related episodes.

Previously, Spotify’s editorial teams had curated playlists, podcasts, and talk content for their users during Ramadan. Through this new announcement, Spotify aims to spotlight content that changes each day, creating personalised playlists with songs picked just for listeners, and highlighting trending content that people are listening to in their region.

Moreover, the platform is aiming at making readings from the Quran easily accessible, and listeners can also find exclusive clips and greetings from their favourite artists and celebrities wishing them a blessed Ramadan.

For Gautam Talwar, managing director for Spotify Asia-Pacific, they are proud of delivering this new Ramaden-centric experience to their listeners during this holy month of observance.

“We’re designing an experience on the platform that allows our listeners to take a more active role in discoverability as well as to foster more meaningful connections with artists and podcasters they love on Spotify,” Talwar said.

Meanwhile, Rhea Chedid, senior podcast manager at Spotify, commented that they are now seeing more and more podcasters release series that are the ultimate companions to everyone observing Ramadan.

“Everything from shows about cooking and the history of Ramadan traditions and Islam, to audio scripted series that entertain and podcasts that review your favourite Ramadan television series, we are really witnessing creators think deeply about how they can better the lives of listeners through audio during this time,” Chedid said.

Singapore – In a first-of-a-kind music collaboration in Asia, Singapore-based singer Benjamin Kheng has recently published its newest music video called ‘WORLDS’, with virtual influencer Rae also taking part in the video, signaling the creative merge of reality and virtual talents.

Rae’s singing is made possible by her latest text-to-speech (TTS) technology that allows audio content to be generated almost instantly. The technology also allows Rae to express her bold personality through a new medium, deepening her engagement with her followers in the digital world and online communities. As a virtual being, Rae speaks in an alto tone with a slight robotic pitch, and is effectively bilingual in English and Mandarin, opening up room for more versatility and creativity in content formats for collaborations.

Speaking about her participation in the music video, she notes that her presence at ‘WORLDS’ was a way to ‘find her voice’, and that it symbolized the natural extension of their interactions across two different realms.

“To create a new experience, we experimented with an electronic treatment for my voice, in contrast to Ben’s vocals. I enjoyed every bit of the co-creation process, from the recording to the filming of the music video. For me, the song expresses the friendships and rapport I’ve established with every individual across our universes. It’s about how our worlds, while different, can converge and connect. I hope that fans will enjoy checking out the video and listening to the new release,” Rae stated.

Meanwhile, Kheng commented, “The song was written about a loved one who passed on, and how I missed her so much I’d dream of lifetimes with her. I was so curious as to how working with Rae would be, but finally meeting ‘her’ was a blast. She might be virtual but she, her team and the whole process felt real ‘real’ to me.”

Rae, as seen on one of her promotions with the new Audi R3 Model last May.

Rae, who debuted last October 2020, has worked closely with local and international brands as their representatives, including working with Audi Singapore for the promotion of the new Audi A3 Model, as well as launching her own non-fungible token (NFT) series collection called ‘TAKE A BYTE’ in July this year.

Virtual influencers, both the human-like and caricature ones, have been recently popping out in support of brand campaigns. For instance, South Korean insurance company Shinhan Life has tapped virtual influencer Oh Rozy for their latest brand campaign, done in collaboration with creative agency TBWA\ Korea. In the caricature realm, ‘VTubers’ or virtual YouTubers have proliferated, from Sony Music Japan announcing auditions for their large-scale VTuber project, to AirAsia debuting their first-ever virtual idol Aozora Kurumi.

Manila, Philippines – The pioneering local music channel in the Philippines MYX has once again run their music awards virtually this year, with the official hashtag and title, #MYXAwards2021. 

The Myx Music Awards has been around since 2006, and just like all events during the pandemic, it saw the music brand pivoting its awards event to virtual in 2020. Due to its success last year, MYX once again celebrated Original Filipino Music or OPM virtually with #MYXAwards2021 which is in partnership with Twitter. 

Right off the bat, Filipino music fans flocked to Twitter as the event unfolded on 7 August, tallying over 4.3 million tweets dedicated to the event for this year. According to Twitter Philippines, this was almost the same volume of tweets racked up last year. 

Twitter said the conversation peaked at around 11 pm as everyone watched till the end of the event, which was streamed live across YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, as well as on MYX’s own website and on kumu. 

As expected, #MYXAwards2021 ruled Twitter trends on the event day as fans expressed their excitement and reactions as it happened. Twitter recorded the top 10 hashtags used by netizens including #bts, #sb19atmyxawards, #myxawards2021, #sb19, and #bgyoonmyxawards2021.

Fans hashtagged around local Filipino five-member boy band, SB19, the most as the group racked up the top awards by MYX such as ‘Music Video of The Year’ for its song ‘Alab’, including the award ‘Song of The Year’ for the same song. SB19 was also named overall ‘The Artist of The Year’. 

Since 2018, Twitter releases a special emoji for the Myx Music Awards. Fans used the official hashtags #MYX, #MYXAwards, and #MYXAwards2021 as they showed their support to their favorite artists and to unlock the special emoji. 

Aside from the special emoji, fans also utilized other emojis to express their sentiments. The most used emojis are the Purple heart, musical notes, the trophy emoji as well as the sparkle, and bawling emojis. 

The most retweeted tweet of the night goes to BTS (@BTS_twt) for winning International Video of the Year for Dynamite, proving the Filipino ARMYs impassioned love for the group.

With this, the K-pop group emerged as the top mentioned celebrity during the event, followed by local music groups SB19, BGYO, Ben&Ben with part of the conversations during the night also centering around Ed Sheeran.

Carl Cheng, head of entertainment partnerships at Twitter for SEA & Greater China, commented, “Apart from the power of music, MYX Awards 2021 also showcased the power of conversations in hyping up the moment and keeping the excitement alive. The energy of music fans and communities here on Twitter is simply compelling, and we are equally excited to bring more of #WhatsHappening in entertainment closer to home using Twitter.”

Other awards by MYX included New Artist of The Year, Mellow Video of The Year, and Rock Video of The Year, among others. 

Singapore – TikTok has announced the third edition of its TikTok Music Night which is a post-Valentine’s Day celebration in Asia – ”Love Edition” – to be streamed live on the TikTok app in February 18 at 7:30 p.m. SGT. 

TikTok Music Night Asia “Love Edition” will feature some of the top romantic artists in the region, such as MICappella from Singapore, Ariel Tsai from Taiwan, Layla Sania from Malaysia as well as Filipino performer Route 83, and Indonesia’s Afgan, among many others. 

Through the event, TikTok aims to promote creativity and bring joy to the public. The first live stream stage was in October 2020 and has expanded well beyond Korea to other countries across Southeast Asia, including Singapore. Recent editions featured internationally acclaimed artists, such as Pentatonix, Lauv, and Conan Gray, among others.

Aside from the local up-and-coming artists from Asia, the “Love Edition” will also feature guest performances from international artists such as Pink Sweat$ performing ‘At My Worst’ followed by Max, whose hit romantic song ‘Blueberry Eyes’ featured Suga of BTS. Local Singapore artists, such as Benjamin Kheng ft. J.Sheon and EstelleFly will also perform in the live stream event.

Here are the following Asian artists on the upcoming Music Night:

● MICappella, Singapore

● 蔡佩軒 Ariel Tsai, Taiwan

● 鄭心慈 Kelly Cheng, Taiwan

● cinnamons × evening cinema, Japan

● ALEXA, Korea

● MOMMY SON (Feat. Wonstein, Chanjuicy), Korea

● Layla Sania, Malaysia

● NOAH & Shakira Jasmine, Indonesia

● Afgan, Indonesia

● Route 83, Philippines

● Alisson Shore, Philippines

● Violette Wautier, Thailand

● Earth Patravee, Thailand

● CARA, Vietnam

Singapore – NME, a British music magazine that has expanded its reach in Asia, has announced the launch of NME Shop, a one-stop shop for music-related items, including official merchandise, vinyl records and music studio equipment.

Targeted primarily to the Singaporean, Malaysian and the Philippine market, items in the NME shop are curated by NME Asia’s members for regional and user preference.

Official merchandise sold in the shop include exclusive NME-branded merchandise and also band-themed items, including those from celebrities such as David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Daydreamer and Blondie.

Vinyl records and cassette tapes of official music releases are also available, from international celebrities such as Billie Eilish and The 1975, to Singapore-based artists such as The Observatory.

For music producers, equipment such as CD turntables, speakers, launchpads, and headsets are also available for purchase in the online shop.

“Since 1952 NME has been a musical tastemaker. It’s now grown into a global media powerhouse committed to creating and curating content, products and experiences essential to fans of music and pop culture today. We’re now extending our iconic tastemaking to physical music products, festival merch, and music gear to delight music lovers in Asia,” said Meng Ru Kuok, CEO of NME parent company BandLab Technologies.

Singapore – Universal Music Singapore, a music-based entertainment division of Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced that former Warner Music Singapore Managing Director Simon Jerome Nasser has been appointed to the position of managing director and head of live for Southeast Asia.

As a core member of the regional executive team, he will be overseeing UMG’s operations within Singapore, leading and developing domestic and international activity within the market. He will be based within UMG’s regional office in Singapore and will report to Calvin Wong, chief executive officer of Universal Music Southeast Asia (UMG SEA) and senior vice president for Asia.

As head of live for SEA, Nasser will be managing UMG’s live activity across the region and will work closely with UMG’s global vice president of live events Jimmi Riise to expand and develop strategic live opportunities for UMG’s domestic and international talent, labels, and partners in the region.

Nasser joins the company with more than thirty years of music industry experience in the region. He held the MD position in Warner Music Group (WMG) from 2015-2020where he discovered, developed, and broke both domestic and international talent within Singapore and the wider SEA region.

Nasser has significant experience in the live arena, having helped promote tours and shows in recent years within SEA for domestic and international artists including Kylie Minogue, FUN, Anne-Marie, The Click Five, YouTube Stars, and MLTR among others. 

A promoter of industry rights within Singapore and the wider region, Nasser is also the current chairman of the Recording Industry Association Singapore, Music Rights Singapore, and Recording Industry Performance Singapore.

In making the announcement, Wong said, “I am excited for Simon to join me in Singapore and to help us to build an exciting future for UMG across the region. His skillset is unparalleled in the market, his passion is infectious and his track record at breaking artists locally is second to none. I am sure his legacy will continue to shine in his new role.”

Meanwhile, Riise added, “I am delighted that Simon will now lead our live business activity within Southeast Asia. His vast experience and deep local knowledge will help provide a new focus to our activity across SEA and will allow us even greater synergy between our recorded music and live operations in the region, to create maximum impact for our artists and their fans.”

Commenting on his appointment, Nasser said, “I am excited to join the team UMG here in Singapore and SEA. Music has been and will always be my big passion in life. It is a privilege and blessing to now be part of UMG, the global industry leader, and the market-leader here in Singapore. I’m humbled to be given this opportunity to work within a team of incredible leaders and amazing artists to embrace my passion and love for music, a DNA for life.”

“Over the coming months and years, we will focus on developing our domestic artists and labels, nurturing their creative vision to help them reach new audiences across the region and globally while identifying and creating exciting growth opportunities for Universal Music Singapore. The current live landscape in SEA allows us to help artists, partners, and brands curate personalized, innovative, and valuable experiences and performances that will embrace the digital space, live streaming, and of course, public live events as they become more frequent again in the years to come,” he added.