Universal Music Group has announced a new partnership with China’s premiere independent music label, Modern Sky.
The new deal will bring thousands of Modern Sky songs into UMG’s worldwide distribution network, from artists like New Pants, Re-TROS, Second Hand Rose, Miserable Faith, Xie Tianxiao, Wutiaoren, Sound Fragment, Ma Di, Tizzy T, Supermarket, Glamorous Pharmacy, The Dada, MRSEATURTULE, Mosaic, Queen Sea Big Shark. In total, Modern Sky currently boasts 150 artists on its roster.
Founded in 1997, Modern Sky originated the Strawberry Music Festival in 2008, China’s first-ever large-scale outdoor music festival. The festival has since expanded to countless other cities, with a Tokyo debut set for 2025. Modern Sky hosted it’s first international festival in New York’s Central Park in 2014, and today organizes over 30 music festivals annually and more than 1,000 performances across China—it has also expanded to include divisions in New York, Liverpool, and Tokyo.
In announcing the new partnership, Timothy Xu, the chairman and CEO of UMG Greater China, said the strategic agreement “not only broadens the global reach of Chinese music but also highlights the distinct energy and creativity that define China’s young generation today.” He concluded: “Together, we aim to amplify these voices on the global stage, celebrating the role of Chinese music in today’s cultural conversation.”
“Through this collaboration, we’re thrilled to bring a fresh side of Chinese originality to the world, inviting audiences everywhere to experience the unique energy and cultural depth of China’s youth,” Shen Lihui, Modern Sky’s founder and CEO, added.