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Tony Fernandes wants the world to hear Asean music; launches music label
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Hassan Choudhury (third from left), head of music for AirAsia Group and CEO of RedRecords; Calvin Wong, CEO South East Asia and senior vice president, Asia - Universal Music Group; Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group; Jannine Weigel, Red Records first signing artist; Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, executive chairman of AirAsia Group; Kenny Ong, managing director of Universal Music Malaysia; and Nadda Buranasiri CEO of AirAsia X Group at the launch of RedRecords on Dec. 6, 2019. (AirAsia/File)
AirAsia has launched a new route. Its destination? Music land.
The low-cost airline has teamed up with Universal Music Group (UMG) to start RedRecords, a music label devoted to discovering and grooming new talents in Southeast Asia.
"The idea is to use the marketing power of AirAsia to find talents in Southeast Asia, make great music and help them break through in the global market," said AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes during its launch today in Kuala Lumpur.
"It's a lofty dream. But if you never do it, you never know."
In a bid to foster a global appreciation for Asean music, Fernandes shared the music of RedRecords will showcase the different native languages spoken in ASEAN countries as well as traditional instruments like the gamelan.
Read also: AirAsia bets its in-flight menu can win diners on the ground
Chairman and chief executive officer of UMG Sir Lucian Grainge said in video message: "Music today in the streaming age has no barriers. We've seen that with the music from Latin America, Europe and with K-pop.
"We think this partnership between AirAsia and Universal Music will be a phenomenal opportunity to introduce the best music from the [Asean] market."
RedRecords' first signed artiste is 19-year-old Thai-German singer Jannine Weigel.
Prior to joining the airline industry in 2001, Fernandes was a music executive at Warner Music.
"This day has been 18 years in the making. It's a really special day for me to be back in the music business," said Fernandes.
This article appeared on The Star newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
