Singapore & Tokyo, 10 July, 2025 – blackx, a leader in music-focused investments across Asia, has entered a landmark partnership with Japanese music icon Haruomi Hosono, one of the most influential figures in modern music. Across more than five decades, Hosono has shaped the sound of Japan and inspired generations of artists worldwide from defining Japanese folk rock with Happy End, to pioneering electronic music with Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) and building a genre-defying solo career including ambient, exotica and sound collage.
“Hosono-san’s legacy is unmatched, he is a true pioneer and a legend in Japan,” said Hiroki Shirasuka, Head of Japan for blackx. “We are honoured to support his next chapter to expand and cement his musical legacy for new generations of audiences worldwide.”
Through this partnership, blackx will work closely with Hosono to bring his legacy to new audiences around the world. The collaboration marks his return to Europe with a live show in London and a Dover Street Market (DSM) Pop-Up partnership in Paris in July 2025 (see appendix) and will expand into a broader slate of creative projects including merchandise, reissues, exhibitions, and a digital museum experience that captures Hosono’s influence.
A limited-edition Hosono capsule collection, designed by icon Kiko Mizuhara and designer Hijiri, will also be released. Featuring apparel and accessories, the debut line will launch exclusively at DSM in Paris.
“blackx suddenly appeared before me like an angel and decided to support my future activities overseas. What incredible luck! All the best!” Haruomi Hosono said.
A Legacy of Firsts
Born in Tokyo in 1947, Haruomi Hosono began his musical journey with the psychedelic rock band Apryl Fool. He went on to co-found Happy End with Takashi Matsumoto, Eiichi Ohtaki, and Shigeru Suzuki, a band that broke from convention by singing folk rock in Japanese. Their track “Kaze wo Atsumete” from album Kazemachi Roman (1971) gained global recognition after its inclusion in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation.
In 1978, Hosono formed the legendary YMO with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi. Their use of synthesizers, sequences, drum machines and 8-bit samples helped lay the foundation for video game music, synth-pop and techno. In May this year, YMO was honoured as a “Symbol of Music” at the inaugural Music Awards Japan as a tribute to their lasting cultural impact.
Hosono’s solo work is a lifelong study in exploration and reinvention. Hosono House (1973) fused Japanese folk with American country, Paraiso (1978) delved into exotica and Cochin Moon (1978) broke open psychedelic electronic music. Across the decades, he has influenced and collaborated with artists across genres and generations.
From Japan to the World
blackx’s partnership with Haruomi Hosono is the second collaboration in Japan this year, following the March announcement to lead the global expansion of J-pop with ASOBISYSTEM. These partnerships signal deepening trust and creative alignment within one of the world’s most influential music ecosystems, as well as a joint belief in the global resonance of Japan’s music culture.
“It’s truly a privilege to partner with one of the most important artists of all time. Hosono-san’s music transcends time and borders, and he sits among the few in the pantheon of music legends,” said blackx’s CEO Tan Chee Meng. “blackx is proud to play a part in the stewardship of his legacy, introducing his lifeworks to new generations of fans around the world and creating further value by supporting his upcoming creative endeavours as he continues to break new ground.”
Hosono’s journey has been one of curiosity, creativity and experimentation. His legacy is not just a catalog of music but a blueprint for how sound can evolve, inspire and endure. This reflects blackx’s broader ambition to partner and invest in Asian artists and cultural works that transcends borders, genres and generations.
Suzhou, China, 9 July 2025 – What if the lyrics that shaped your life could shape the space around you? WeWORD 字我订造, the world’s first immersive exhibition dedicated to Chinese pop lyrics, opens in Suzhou this summer. Visitors will step inside the songs that defined generations, experiencing how Chinese music and language evolve from sound into art, memory, and a living cultural connection.
Conceived by renowned lyricist and exhibition art director Francis Lee 李焯雄, WeWORD explores the intimate relationship between music and identity. As he puts it: “Lyrics are words written on my mind, and sometimes it’s hard to tell whether the lyrics are quoted by me, or I’m created by them.”
Twelve iconic works by Lee are brought to life through immersive storytelling, spatial design, and interactive technology including an AI-powered “Lyrics Tree” that changes in response to each visitor’s voice. Chart-topping hits by Eason Chan, Jolin Tsai, a-Mei, Karen Mok, Fish Leong, Yoga Lin, HUSH, waa Wei and Ma Dun are featured, alongside an unreleased collaboration with David Tao, created exclusively for Suzhou.
More than an exhibition, WeWORD reimagines the music experience by transforming passive listening into a vivid, multi-sensory journey that audiences can feel, share, and remember. It also showcases how music IP can evolve beyond concerts and streaming as fans seek deeper, more interactive connections.
WeWORD, created and licensed by Terra-breeze Co., Ltd 天空蓝 and Kwan’s International Co., Ltd 宽鱼国际 and curated by Zhang Wen Ling 张文玲, first debuted in Taipei. The Suzhou exhibition is organized by Suzhou Broadcasting System (SBS) 苏州广电文产创意中心, and Suzhou NICE Cultural and Creative Development Co., Ltd 苏州南施文创发展有限公司, with blackx as the exclusive exhibition agent.
SINGAPORE & TOKYO, 4 March, 2025 – blackx, a leader in music-focused investments across Asia, has teamed up with ASOBISYSTEM, one of Japan’s most renowned talent management and production companies, to accelerate the global expansion of Japanese pop culture (J-Pop). This strategic partnership will fuel intellectual property (IP) development, unlock exciting new opportunities for artists and enhance fan engagement worldwide.
Japan’s music scene is known for its unique artistry, vibrant performances and cultural influence, with a dedicated fanbase at home. Today, with the growing demand for diverse music and entertainment across digital platforms, J-Pop is poised to extend its reach and captivate a broader audience.
ASOBISYSTEM is a powerhouse in the Japanese entertainment industry, representing over 100 artists, models, actors and creators. It excels in talent management, IP development, and brand partnerships, with a roster featuring some of Japan’s most iconic and rising stars including:
“We are currently witnessing an unprecedented global momentum for J-Pop, leading a new generation of Japanese music to a global audience,” said Hiroki Shirasuka, Head of Japan for blackx. “We are excited to partner with ASOBISYSTEM, a company at the forefront of J-Pop’s innovation, with an unmatched history of creativity and cultural influence, and that shares our vision for global impact. With our extensive resource and experience, blackx aims to support ASOBISYSTEM in continuing to break new boundaries and amplify Japanese pop culture on a global scale.”
Yusuke Nakagawa, CEO of ASOBISYSTEM said, “We are dedicated to nurturing the diverse talents of artists and maximizing their reach to a global audience. Through this partnership, we are thrilled to collaborate with blackx, leveraging their expertise and support to further expand opportunities for artists.”
Expanding J-Pop’s Global Influence Through IP Development
From record-breaking concerts to exclusive merchandise and immersive experiences, Japan is distinguished by its approach to unparalleled fan engagement. According to IFPI’s 2024 Music Report, the country remains the world’s second largest music market, with continued growth driven by a thriving domestic market and growing consumption across international streaming services. This strong foundation provides the perfect backdrop for blackx and ASOBISYSTEM to build on.
At the core of this strategic partnership is a shared commitment to providing artists with the resources to thrive in a dynamic global market and connect with fans more meaningfully. blackx and ASOBISYSTEM will expand artist portfolios, venturing beyond traditional music to explore innovative IP such as cross-industry collaborations, introducing J-Pop to new global audiences and reinforcing Japan’s leadership in the entertainment sector.
“This partnership with ASOBISYSTEM further underpins our vision to elevate the understanding and appreciation of Asian culture globally. By creating opportunities where culture and creativity coalesce, we aim to foster deep emotional bonds between artists and fans across borders,” said Tan Chee Meng, CEO of blackx. “Collaborating with ASOBISYSTEM to expand the influence of Japan’s top talents globally will bring us one step closer to realizing this vision.”
“Our combined strengths in entertainment, technology and creativity will allow us to explore untapped territories for J-Pop,” added Yusuke Nakagawa, CEO of ASOBISYSTEM. “Together, we will set new benchmarks on how music, culture and creativity intersect across industries and markets.”
With the increasing prominence of digital platforms and global streaming services, Japanese artists now have unprecedented access to global markets. The partnership between blackx and ASOBISYSTEM promises to deliver exciting developments for artists and J-Pop enthusiasts around the world.
SINGAPORE – 12 July 2023 – blackx 玄 乐, one of Asia’s pioneers in music-related investments, has inked a multi-year exclusive global music rights publishing partnership with Tanya Chua 蔡健雅, to manage her entire repertoire of musical intellectual property (IP) rights with the overall aim of driving artistic vision and next generation content, as well as to inspire emerging songwriters.
Tanya Chua is Asia’s record-breaking, award-winning producer and singer-songwriter with an illustrious career spanning over two decades. Her multiple wins at Taiwan’s 2022 Golden Melody Awards (GMA) for “Album Of The Year” and “Best Mandarin Album” for her “DEPART” album mark the first such win ever in the Awards’ history. Tanya Chua is also the only artist ever to be awarded the GMA for Best Female Singer (Mandarin) a record-breaking four times – in 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2022. The GMA is often recognised as Asia’s equivalent to the Grammy Awards in the Mando-pop industry.
With the partnership, blackx will oversee the musical IP rights for Tanya Chua’s musical works, including all-time hits, such as Letting Go, 達爾文, 空白格, 陌生人, 無底洞, 拋物線, 失語者, 別 找我麻煩 as well as her latest award-winning album “DEPART”. blackx will also manage the rights of top hits composed by Tanya Chua and performed by other renowned artists, as well as that of her collaborations with top artists including Carla Bruni, Jolin Tsai, Jam Hsiao, A-Mei, Eason Chan, Na Ying and others.
Ms Tanya Chua said: “Making great music that not only entertains but resonates with audiences has always been my focus. This partnership with blackx will raise the bar on connecting with my fans through a variety of content formats, distribution platforms and artistic collaborations. Ultimately, I hope that my works can engage and inspire more emerging songwriters, while accompanying listeners on their personal journeys throughout the years.”
The agreement also covers Tanya Chua’s future compositions and songs, further paving the way for potential opportunities that may lie ahead for the partners.
“Tanya is a landmark Asian artist and her works underpin the foundation for blackx to build upon. We are stoked to partnerwith one of Asia’s generational talents who embodies timelessness, and to fulfil her passion and enable endless possibilities for her award-winning body of work, in turn creating new experiences for her fans not only in Asia but globally,” said Mr Tan Chee Meng 陈志民, CEO of blackx.
Tanya Chua’s works have received unwaning popularity over the years. Her classic hits such as 達爾文，Letting Go, 失語者、空白格, are constantly covered and thereby loved by new generations in turn. With a steady stream of listeners at a rising rate, today, her songs see more than 100 million streams a year.
In May, she performed sold-out shows at Taipei Arena to kick start her world tour “Kisses for the world – Let’s DEPART!”, as well as another sold-out show at the Hong Kong Coliseum last month. On 1 July, Tanya Chua was invited as a guest performer at this year’s 34th Golden Melody Awards, which ranked as one of the awards’ top 5 TV performances.
Pioneering Content Acquisition, Creation and Distribution In Asia With A Creator-First Approach
With a view to enrich the overall value of her assets, blackx will manage all of Tanya Chua’s musical rights on a global basis while supporting her artistic vision of developing and investing in new IPs.
This effort entails maximizing her existing musical IP or working with her to create and curate new musical works across a variety of audio-visual formats leveraging these vast catalogues. With a strong presence across the Asian markets of Singapore, Greater China and Japan, blackx will also distribute and promote these IPs through emerging platforms and explore vertical segments such as gaming and fitness, for instance.
“Singer-songwriters over the years have looked at alternative ways to optimize and enrich the life of their musical IP and assets – including transforming their top musical hits into musical scores, film plots and leveraging technology and innovation for new, immersive experiences. The possibilities that we’re seeing in this space today is even more exciting as our partnership with Tanya kicks off, given the depth and breadth of her vast content portfolio, as well as the wider Asian content we could potentially access in the future to redefine history and culture,” said blackx’s President of Greater China, Mr Garand Wu 吴佳伦.
“Our vision has always been to enable artists to be successful in the pursuit of their craft – both creatively and commercially, as well as allowing creators and investors to participate in each other’s success. blackx will play a key role in managing the entire value chain end-to-end for creators to focus on their creative endeavours, while connecting with new audiences at a deeper level through different, innovative experiences,” added Tan.
Strong Momentum Following Recent Acquisition Of Catalog of Award-Winning Asian Hits by Renowned Taiwanese Songwriter Frances Wang, Zhong Yan
In May 2023, blackx announced its acquisition of a catalog comprising publishing rights to over 230 songs by renowned songwriter Frances Wang, Zhong Yan, as part of its creator-first approach to acquiring, creating and distributing IP and amplifying content.
Carrying depth and emotion that appeal across genres and ages, blackx intends to similarly transform and amplify this catalog of lyrics into different formats, which can thereafter be promoted across platforms.
Catalog comprises publishing rights to over 230 songs, including iconic Asian hits by artists such as Faye Wong, A-Mei, Jeff Zhang Xin Zhe, Oaeen, Eason Chan, Wan Fang and Tiger Huang Xiao Hu
SINGAPORE – 4 May 2023 – blackx, one of Asia’s pioneers in music-related investments, has acquired a catalog comprising publishing rights to over 230 songs by renowned songwriter Frances Wang, Zhong Yan 王中言. During her illustrious career spanning 30 years, Frances has created a catalog of award winning hits performed by top Asian artists such as:
• Wakin Chao – 周华健 Ni Shuo De Dui 你说的对
• Mavis Fan Xiao Xuan – 范晓萱 Hao Xiang Tan Lian Ai 好想谈恋爱
• Tiger Huang Xiao Hu – 黄小琥 Bu Zhi Shi Peng You 不只是朋友
• Rene Liu 刘若英 – Da Le Yi Ba Yin Shi Gei Ni 打了一把钥匙给你
• Oaeen 鱼丁糸 – Xin Qing Dian Ti 心情电梯
• William So 苏永康 – Nan Ren Bu Gai Rang Nu Ren Liu Lei 男人不该
让女人流泪
• Wan Fang 万芳 – Ye Zhao Liang Le Ye 夜照亮了夜
• Faye Wong 王菲 – Juan Lian 眷恋
• Sky Wu Si Kai 伍思凯 – Ji Mo Gong Lu 寂寞公路
• Zhang Hui Mei (A-Mei) 张惠妹 – Bu Xiang Ge Da Ren 不像个大人
• Jeff Zhang Xin Zhe 张信哲 – Bu Yao Dui Ta Shuo 不要对她说
• Zhou Chuan Xiong (Xiao Gang) 周传雄 – Nuan Feng 暖风
An influential figure in the Chinese music industry, Taiwan-based Frances is highly sought after for her signature blend of poetic prose that showcases complex emotions. Her creations are characterized by a profound yet delicate lyrical style.
On her collaboration with blackx, Frances said: “It’s extremely fulfilling to be able to partner blackx on their strategy to enable both artists and investors to participate equitably and efficiently in the economy of Asian music. blackx’s creator-first approach to acquiring, creating and distributing IP and amplifying content is both appealing and exciting to artists and content creators alike. I look forward to scaling our collaboration to even greater heights in the future.
A multi-disciplinary creator, Frances has taken on artistic challenges that saw her becoming a film maker, music executive producer, as well as author. She is currently also working on a movie screenplay.
blackx’s President of Greater China, Garand Wu, said: “As a seasoned and well-loved music industry veteran, Frances’ lyrics carry depth and emotion that appeal across genres and ages. Her catalog will provide us with a huge amount of captive, ready content to work with in terms of how we can transform and amplify these into different formats and promote across platforms. At blackx, we will work with creators to expand and optimize the breadth of their assets across their properties and business segments, so that we can maximize the life and revenue potential of these musical assets.”
With this collaborative approach, creators can continue generating more valuable and compelling musical content, while blackx supports them in nurturing the value of their IP through the pursuit of creative and commercialization efforts such as artist and repertoire management, publishing, marketing and promotion.
Chee Meng has over 25 years of experience in senior roles across media, technology, and both independent and major music labels, with deep insights into Asian cultural nuances, evolving industry trends, and business practices.
He was twice recognised on Billboard Magazine’s International Power Players List for his role in shaping the digital music landscape in Asia and driving explosive industry growth across the region in recent years.
Garand is a veteran musician and former Managing Director of Universal Music (China), where he led the company’s expansion across the region and pioneered multi-label operations as the first international major to do so in China.
With over 25 years of senior experience across live entertainment, media, and music in Asia, Garand brings deep expertise in strategic marketing and label management, especially in Greater China. As a senior A&R executive producer, he has bridged East and West, signing notable artists including Ouyang Nana, Guo Ding, and Tanya Chua.
An expert in IP creation and copyright development, Garand has driven innovative revenue models that empower artists to monetize content directly with fans. He is widely recognised for advancing digitisation and copyright development in China’s music industry.
Originally from Taiwan, Garand was part of UFO Records’ founding team and has held senior roles at EMI and MTV.
With extensive expertise in Japan as well as the UK, Hiroki has established himself as one of the most respected artist managers as Co-Founder of Giant Artist Management, ESEA Music, and EarthPercent. Widely recognised for consistently developing and delivering critically acclaimed, innovative, and globally successful artists in the last 15 years, the veteran music executive has worked with some of Japan’s biggest artists such as Fujii Kaze and Hikaru Utada. Hiroki has been actively connecting Asian artists and the world and strives to improve Asian representation in the global music industry.
Haruomi Hosono is one of Japan’s most influential musicians with a career spanning more than five decades. From founding folk rock band Happy End to establishing the electronic trio Yellow Magic Orchestra, Hosono has continually pushed the boundaries of sound. His genre-defying solo work explores everything from ambient and exotica to experimental pop. A quiet radical with global influence, Hosono’s music has shaped generations of artists from Tatsuro Yamashita and Cornelius to Depeche Mode, David Bowie, and Harry Styles. His work remains a living archive of innovation.
ASOBISYSTEM is a powerhouse in Japanese entertainment, shaping youth culture through music, fashion, and digital media. Managing over 100 artists, models, actors, and creators, they lead with talent, IP, and brand partnerships. Their roster includes pop icon Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, genre-defying Atarashii Gakko!, Harajuku-style idol group Fruits Zipper and electronic music legend Yasutaka Nakata. ASOBISYSTEM stands at the cutting edge of Japan’s creative scene.
Tanya is the most decorated female artist in Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Melody Award history, winning Best Female Singer a record-breaking four times. Beyond performance, the Singaporean singer-songwriter and producer is a creative force who keeps pushing artistic boundaries. Most recently, she made her debut as music director for a TV series, composing the full soundtrack and score for the 2024 hit Taiwanese drama Imperfect Us. A long-standing icon in Mandarin pop, Tanya continues to redefine excellence on her own terms.
An influential figure in the Chinese music industry, Taiwan-based Frances Wang is known for her signature blend of poetic prose and complex emotions. One of Taiwan’s most sought-after songwriters, she has crafted timeless hits for award-winning artists like A-Mei, Faye Wong, Jeff Chang, and Wakin Chao. More than a hitmaker, Frances transforms raw emotion into universal anthems, bridging artistry with mainstream appeal. Her lyrics transcend time, giving voice to generations through Mandarin pop’s most iconic songs.