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Ne-Yo has never been shy about pushing R&B and hip hop into new territories, but his latest move marks one of the most ambitious global plays of his career. The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and longtime cultural bridge-builder is teaming up with MC Jin and Indian superstar Sonu Nigam to launch Pacific Music Group, a Hong Kong–based label designed to elevate Pan-Asian artists onto the world stage.
While the partnership reflects the star power of all three founders, it’s Ne-Yo’s influence that sets the tone. After years of touring across Japan, Korea, China, and Southeast Asia, he’s betting big on a region whose music economy is exploding — and he’s putting himself at the center of its next wave.
“Launching Pacific Music Group isn’t just a business move, it’s a personal mission,” Ne-Yo said, emphasizing his own Chinese heritage and deep connection to Asia’s creative landscape. “I’ve toured across Asia several times and witnessed the evolution of the music scene, so I’m really excited to make history and bring the region’s rich culture to the forefront of the global stage.”
That personal stake separates PMG from the many Western ventures that have tried and failed to break the region from the outside. For Ne-Yo, the label isn’t about casting a net — it’s about building infrastructure that speaks the region’s language, creatively and culturally.
Industry heavyweight Jonathan Serbin, former co-president of Warner Music Asia, is steering operations. His track record includes signing some of Asia’s most influential stars, like Lay Zhang and Jolin Tsai, giving PMG immediate credibility and an insider’s roadmap through fast-growing markets.
Hip hop, one of the label’s core pillars, will be under the leadership of MC Jin, who shattered barriers as the first Asian American solo rapper signed to a major U.S. label. His run on 106 & Park Freestyle Fridays — seven straight wins and a Hall of Fame induction — still stands as one of the genre’s formative TV moments.
“For me, hip hop provided a way to find my voice as an artist, explore my identity as a Chinese American and share my truth as a storyteller,” Jin said, framing PMG’s mission as a new chapter in a long-running cultural dialogue.
On the other side of the map, Indian icon Sonu Nigam brings one of the world’s largest fanbases — and a vision for trans-Asian collaboration. “India alone has 1.6 billion people, but Indian artists want to connect well beyond our borders,” he noted. “We’re not just exporting talent, we’re helping artists thrive both at home and abroad.”
The timing is no accident. According to Bloomberg, Asia’s music industry is projected to surpass $8 billion in revenue by 2026, with streaming surging in India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and beyond. Pop, R&B, hip hop, electronic, and regional sounds are traveling wider and faster than ever — but the infrastructure to develop Pan-Asian stars has lagged behind.
With its first roster set to be revealed in the coming months — and debut releases expected in fall 2025 — PMG isn’t just entering the market. It wants to reshape it.
And if Ne-Yo’s track record is any indication, he’s not just joining Asia’s future — he’s trying to help define it.
