The Tokyo-based music marketing indie Hostess Entertainment and Warner Music South East Asia announced a licensing agreement that will see Hostess gradually expand its footprint beyond Japan to South East Asian markets, which include Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines.
The partnership encompasses a wide range of artists and labels that Hostess represents in Japan, almost all of which are international repertoire. Hostess’s international label partners include Domino Recording Co, The Beggar’s Group and the PIAS Entertainment Group, among others.
The territories covered under the agreement, however, will vary from label to label, as will whether the distribution rights are for digital formats and/or physical product. Warner Music offices in each South East Asian country will handle the marketing and distribution of the releases, overseen by the company’s regional head quarters in Hong Kong.
The partnership began with the distribution of Radiohead’s “The King Of Limbs” album throughout the South East Asia region, and will be followed by the physical distribution of Adele’s ’21’ (XL). The Beggars Group is extending its existing agreement with Hostess to include Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, via Hostess’s deal with Warner Music.
Andrew Lazonby, Founder & CEO, Hostess K.K. said “I’ve enjoyed following the progress and success of Lachie Rutherford and Calvin Wong’s Warner Music operation in South East Asia over the past few years, and they lead the way as a region-wide, proper music company with no lack of forward drive. With the time being right for Hostess to now expand the territories in which we can provide our unique range of services to artists, managements and labels this was a very easy decision to make in terms of local partner, and we’re looking forward to delivering a lot of excellent new music, with Warner, to fans across the region.”
Lachie Rutherford, President, Warner Music Asia Pacific, Warner Music Group said “Hostess is one of Japan’s most forward-thinking music companies and we are delighted to be partnering with them. We are honoured that, through Hostess, we will be working with these extraordinary labels and the world-class artists they represent, connecting them with fans and delivering new commercial opportunities across South East Asia.”
Hostess Entertainment, the most successful independent music company created in Japan in the last decade, represents the rights of artists, managements and labels in the Japanese market. Artists who have released through Hostess include Adele, Animal Collective, Arctic Monkeys, Beck, Mogwai, Phoenix, Bloc Party, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Sonic Youth, The xx and Vampire Weekend, to name a few.