Warner Music APAC Launches 'Listen Up' Program, Confirms Sydney Showcase Event

Warner Music APAC has unveiled a new artist accelerator program.

Listen Up is a premier global artist accelerator program “designed to redefine how talent travels from Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets and scale to global stardom,” according to a press release.

“Moving beyond traditional promotion, Listen Up functions as a unified regional engine, providing comprehensive artist development, bespoke profiling, and synchronised long-term strategy across Warner Music’s diverse territories,” the press release adds. “The program is designed to signal key priority artists to the market, turning regional momentum into international staying power by leveraging the music company’s global network.”

The example of C-pop artist Gareth T. is cited. The Warner Music Hong Kong-signed artist experienced “explosive growth” this year, with his “Glass” release amassing over 250 million streams in its first month of streaming, making him one of WMG's top 5 globally streamed acts at that point, a first for a Chinese artist in the company.

Listen Up will host two premier industry showcase events in Sydney (August 6th) and Singapore (August 12th), featuring “a selection of international and regional Listen Up artists.”

Lofai Lo, President, Warner Music APAC, WMG, shares: “Listen Up is about mobilising our entire regional footprint and global partners to ensure we aren’t just generating streams, but building lifelong careers. An exciting example of that right now is Warner Music Hong Kong Artist Gareth.T who has skyrocketed this year.

"We are focusing our resources on the talent that can truly move the needle, providing them with the bespoke support needed to turn emerging market opportunities into global superstardom.”   

Brayden Crossley, SVP Marketing Warner Music APAC, WMG, says: “Breaking an artist in today’s landscape requires more than just a viral moment; it requires deep-tier strategy and a unified front. Our program aims to strategically invest in our artists in ways that make an impact in today’s global fandom marketplace.”   

Dan Rosen, President, Warner Music Australasia and SE Asia, adds: “We’re in the business of breaking superstars, and the combined ANZ and SEA region is one of the most exciting places in the world to do that right now. Listen Up is how we put that ambition into action, synchronising the skills and passion of our teams across our 9 offices in the region to develop artists with genuine global potential.

"The showcases in Sydney and Singapore show our partners that we’re operating with real regional scale while staying deeply connected to local culture. We can’t wait to build the careers and fanbases of our Listen UP artists across the world.” 

The 2026 lineup of Listen Up international artists includes Barry Can’t Swim (Atlantic UK), Cil (Warner Records US), Daniel Seavey (Atlantic US), EMEI (Atlantic US), Erin LeCount (Atlantic UK), and Florence Road (Warner Records UK).

2026 APAC-signed Listen Up artists include Balu Brigada (Warner Music Australia/ Atlantic US), BOY SODA (Warner Music Australia), Gareth.T (Warner Music Hong Kong), Guru Randhawa (Warner Music India), Karencici (Warner Music Taiwan), and Kita Alexander (Warner Music Australia).