Ne-Yo, Sonu Nigam and MC Jin Launch Pacific Music Group in Hong Kong

A new Hong Kong-headquartered entertainment venture, Pacific Music Group, has been officially launched with the ambitious goal of cultivating Pan-Asian music stars for the world stage. The company was co-founded by Jonathan Serbin, the former co-president of Warner Music Asia, alongside three internationally acclaimed artists: three-time Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo, Indian playback singing icon Sonu Nigam, and Chinese American hip-hop pioneer MC Jin. This initiative marks a significant strategic effort to promote regional artists internationally while also creating pathways for Western acts to access Asia's rapidly growing music markets.

The label will introduce multiple genre-specific imprints covering pop, R&B, hip-hop, electronic, and diverse regional Asian music styles. Its operational reach will span major territories including Japan, South Korea, China, Southeast Asia, and extend westward to India. Jonathan Serbin, who previously led Warner Music’s Asian expansion and established its first dedicated K-pop label, emphasized the venture's timeliness. "Asia is now one of the most dynamic engines of the global music economy," Serbin noted. "With half the world's population and three of the top ten music markets located here, the region is poised for a leading role. We are creating a music company that is deeply rooted in Asia but built from the ground up for global impact."

Each artist-founder will provide direct mentorship and A&R guidance, drawing from their unique career successes. Ne-Yo, whose songwriting credits include worldwide smashes for Rihanna and Beyoncé, described the launch as a personal mission. "Having Chinese heritage, I feel a deep sense of duty to apply my expertise in discovering and developing the next generation of Pan-Asian superstars," he explained. MC Jin, who gained fame on BET’s "106 & Park" and will lead the hip-hop division, expressed enthusiasm for finding authentic new voices. "Asia is full of artists with compelling stories and unique styles—it’s time for those voices to be heard globally," Jin stated. This hands-on, artist-driven model may give Pacific Music Group a competitive edge in a crowded industry by offering emerging talent direct access to established hitmakers.

Sonu Nigam, a revered Indian playback singer with a career spanning nearly a quarter-century and ranking among the nation's most-streamed artists, highlighted the cross-cultural power of Asian music. "India alone has an audience of 1.6 billion, but our artists dream of reaching far beyond our borders," Nigam commented. "With Pacific Music Group, we're not just exporting talent—we're building careers that thrive both locally and internationally." This approach aligns with a broader industry trend where cultural authenticity and local resonance are becoming just as important as global appeal.

The company's name, Pacific Music Group, reflects a geographic realignment in the global music industry. While the Atlantic once connected the dominant U.S. and U.K. markets, the Pacific now symbolizes the new axis of creative and commercial energy. This shift is reinforced by the presence of Japan, China, and South Korea—three of the world’s largest music markets—alongside fast-growing hubs such as India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The firm will operate through a network of regional offices and talent centers, with its first signings and releases expected to be unveiled in the coming months, leading up to a full launch in fall 2025.