Music Business News: Asia

SM Entertainment revenues rose 15.4% YoY to $233M in Q2, driven by concerts and merch

K-pop company's latest quarterly report was published on Wednesday, August 5

J-pop powerhouse ASOBISYSTEM opens first US headquarters in California

ASOBISYSTEM calls the launch its biggest spending yet in North America, and a permanent base for J-pop acts it has been sending on tour across the US.

Analysis

On… Universal Music Group, Downtown, India, and Streaming 2.0

The latest 'Tim's Take' from Music Business Worldwide founder, Tim Ingham

Interviews

‘India at its core is a song-driven economy, moving toward a personality-led, show business economy.’

Times Music CEO Mandar Thakur talks catalog acquisitions, India’s subscription challenge, and why he believes Indian music’s biggest opportunity lies abroad...

News

Singapore touring and concert firm Triangle raises $15M, as former Live Nation APAC President Roger Field joins leadership team

Triangle, formerly Creation Collective, describes itself as "Asia-Pacific's only homegrown, end-to-end live entertainment platform",

Analysis News

Saregama, India’s oldest label, is using AI to make music videos for songs whose visuals it never owned – and refresh its catalog for Gen Z

Saregama's Managing Director was speaking on the firm's Q2 2026 earnings call

News

South Korea’s KOMCA ends ban on AI-assisted songs – false filings now risk royalty holds and contract termination

The amended rules took effect on Monday (August 3), replacing a ban that KOMCA had applied since March 24, 2025.

News

Spotify overtakes Melon to become South Korea’s second-biggest music streaming service, report finds

It is the first time overseas services have held both of the market's top two positions, according to WiseApp Retail, with Google's YouTube Music still in first.