Warner Music APAC Unveils Listen Up Artist Accelerator to Propel Asia-Pacific Talent onto Global Stage
On June 10, Warner Music APAC announced Listen Up, a new artist accelerator that aims to lift Asia‑Pacific talent onto the global stage. The program, billed as a “premier global artist accelerator,” is designed to reshape the path from regional success to worldwide stardom, according to the company’s press release.
Listen Up operates across the APAC region and will host two showcase events: Sydney on August 6 and Singapore on August 12. The initiative is described as a “unified regional engine” that delivers comprehensive artist development, bespoke profiling and synchronized long‑term strategy across Warner Music’s diverse territories. Its goal is to signal priority artists to the market, turning regional momentum into international staying power by leveraging the company’s global network. The release emphasized that the program is “moving beyond traditional promotion” and focuses on building lifelong careers rather than short‑term streaming spikes.
A key illustration of the program’s impact comes from Hong Kong‑signed C‑pop artist Gareth T. His single “Glass” accumulated more than 250 million streams in its first month, placing him among Warner Music Group’s (WMG) top five globally streamed acts for the year. The press release noted that Gareth T is the first Chinese artist in WMG’s history to reach that ranking.
The showcase line‑ups will feature both international and regional acts. The 2026 international roster includes Barry Can’t Swim (Atlantic UK), Cil (Warner Records US), Daniel Seavey (Atlantic US), EMEI (Atlantic US), Erin LeCount (Atlantic UK) and Florence Road (Warner Records UK). The APAC‑signed lineup lists Balu Brigada (Warner Music Australia/Atlantic US), BOY SODA (Warner Music Australia), Gareth T (Warner Music Hong Kong), Guru Randhawa (Warner Music India), Karencici (Warner Music Taiwan) and Kita Alexander (Warner Music Australia).
Lofai Lo, President of Warner Music APAC, said the program “mobilises our entire regional footprint and global partners to ensure we aren’t just generating streams, but building lifelong careers.” He highlighted Gareth T’s rapid rise as evidence of the program’s potential.
Brayden Crossley, Senior Vice‑President of Marketing for Warner Music APAC, added that “breaking an artist in today’s landscape requires more than a viral moment; it requires deep‑tier strategy and a unified front.” He described Listen Up as a way to “strategically invest in our artists in ways that make an impact in today’s global fandom marketplace.”
Dan Rosen, President of Warner Music Australasia and Southeast Asia, emphasized the region’s attractiveness for superstar development. He stated that the combined ANZ and SEA region is “one of the most exciting places in the world to do that right now.” Rosen explained that Listen Up “synchronises the skills and passion of our teams across our nine offices in the region to develop artists with genuine global potential.” He also noted that the Sydney and Singapore showcases demonstrate the program’s “real regional scale while staying deeply connected to local culture.”
Listen Up is part of WMG’s broader strategy to support emerging markets. The company’s global footprint includes more than 50 countries and a portfolio of major labels such as Atlantic, Warner, Parlophone and Warner Chappell Music. By integrating APAC talent into its worldwide network, WMG aims to create a pipeline that moves artists from local success to sustained international presence.
The program is currently in its first year of operation. No further details on funding, specific development services or contractual terms have been released. The upcoming showcases in Sydney and Singapore are the next public milestones, after which the program will continue to support the listed artists through the remainder of 2026.
