Universal Music China, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), has launched Magic Muses, which UMG claims is China’s first label dedicated solely to film soundtrack and score.
The label will be run by veteran film marketing executive Kelvin Hou, who has been appointed as CEO, effective immediately.
Hou was previously the founder and former CEO of China’s top online movie database & community Mtime. The label will be based in Beijing.
Magic Muses is the first domestic label to be launched by Universal Music China in more than a decade.
The label will work closely with local artists and composer talent to create bespoke musical works for high-profile film and TV projects in China.
In recent years, China’s film and TV industry has expanded rapidly. It boasts the largest number of cinema screens per country in the world, and has ranked as the world’s second-largest movie market in terms of box office since 2012, behind the US.
The company also unveiled its first collaborative film project, which will see Magic Muses produce and release the original film soundtrack, as well as provide musical promotion and marketing for the forthcoming film, My People My Homeland, an anthology with legendary filmmaker Yimou Zhang as the Chief Executive Producer, will be released during China’s National Day holiday on October 1, 2020.
The film gathers directors Hao Ning, Zheng Xu, Sicheng Chen, Fei Yan, Damo Peng, Chao Deng and Baimei Yu together, who have grossed a combined box office in excess of $5.7 billion USD.
In addition, Universal Music China also announced the launch of Hi! Movie Music, China’s first original online series dedicated to the promotion of Chinese movie and TV music.
The first episode debuted online yesterday (August 12) featuring pianist Lang Lang, who is signed to UMG’s Deutsche Grammophon, popular singer Chen Chusheng, who won the 2007 hit show Super Boy, alongside performances from Sa Dingding.
“The launch of Magic Muses shows UMG’s strategic commitment to helping further raise the awareness of Chinese music culture and creativity globally.”
Sunny Chang, Universal Music Greater China
In making the announcement, Sunny Chang, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Greater China, said: “The launch of Magic Muses shows UMG’s strategic commitment to helping further raise the awareness of Chinese music culture and creativity globally.
“In the future, the label will play an important role in helping Chinese movie and TV music reach new audiences around the world, thanks to UMG’s unparalleled global network of labels and support.
“We look forward to working alongside the Chinese film industry collaboratively to create projects that will help firmly establish the genre in China.”
“It is our vision to help redefine film/tv music production and to make Magic Muses the most respected and recognizable home for Film & TV music in China.”
Garand Wu, UM China
Garand Wu, Managing Director of UM China, added: “Magic Muses is the first music label to be launched by Universal China in the past 10 years, and the first label dedicated to Film and TV soundtrack and score in China to be set up by a major international music company.
“As the fastest growing movie market in the world, there is a great opportunity for our industries to collaborate across this previously neglected genre, in order to reimagine the commercial and promotional opportunities that music can add to film projects.
“It is our vision to help redefine film/tv music production and to make Magic Muses the most respected and recognizable home for Film & TV music in China.”
“Magic Muses will be devoted to creating an open and sustainable platform to bring together local talent from music and the film and TV industries, help them to share ideas, exchange resources and produce quality works to engage new and wider audiences globally.”
Kelvin Hou, Magic Muses
Kelvin Hou, CEO Magic Muses, said: “Magic Muses will be devoted to creating an open and sustainable platform to bring together local talent from music and the film and TV industries, help them to share ideas, exchange resources and produce quality works to engage new and wider audiences globally.”
“Music and cinema are necessary and important to each other.”
Lang Lang
Lang Lang said: “One of the charms of cinema is the beautiful and dramatic atmosphere created by music, which helps the audiences to authentically catch the essence and spirit of the story. Personally, it would be quite difficult to imagine a film without music.
“I often picture a video clip, something that is like a scene in a film, while I am playing the piano. Music and cinema are necessary and important to each other.
Pictured [Left to Right] Chusheng Chen, Dingding Sa, Garand Wu, Kelvin Hou and Ning Luo Music Business Worldwide
