Composer Yao Chen (left) and Sun Jiayao, UMPG China's managing director. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Universal Music Publishing Group China has officially signed a global exclusive music rights agreement with renowned contemporary classical composer Yao Chen. This marks a significant milestone as Yao is the first classical music composer to join UMPG China since the company's establishment.
The collaboration aims to build a comprehensive copyright management system for Yao's works, enhancing his influence and expanding his creative space on the global classical music stage.
This signing also signifies the strategic expansion of UMPG's Classics & Screen division into the Chinese market, strengthening the company's global presence in the classical music industry.
Yao is a distinguished composer on the international classical music scene and currently serves as a composition professor and the head of the composition department at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. His compositions seamlessly blend the rich heritage of Eastern music with contemporary influences, with notable works including From the Vessel of Ancient Souls, for orchestra, commissioned by the National Centre for the Performing Arts; Garden: Unearthing the Way Home, for orchestra, commissioned by the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra; and Pipa Plays Opera: Three Scenes from Romance of the Western Chamber, commissioned by the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago, among others.
Composer Yao Chen. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"As a composer, I have always striven to explore and innovate the fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions in a contemporary context," Yao says.
"With UMPG's global vision and professional expertise in copyright operations, I believe this partnership will help my works reach a wider audience and open up more possibilities for my future creations. I look forward to sharing more contemporary voices from China with the world and breathing new life into classical music through cross-cultural exchange."
Sun Jiayao, UMPG China's managing director, says: "Yao's compositions reflect a profound integration of Eastern and Western musical traditions, making him an outstanding representative of contemporary classical music. This partnership marks a major breakthrough in our classical music division and an enhancement of the diversity of our catalog of songwriters."
Sun also notes that it signals the full implementation of UMPG's Classical & Screen strategy in China. "Moving forward, we will leverage our global network to provide comprehensive support for Yao's works, facilitating promotion, commissioning, and copyright management to unlock greater commercial value and cultural influence," Sun says.
