DG China signs young Chinese music talents Yang Yang and Ju Xiaofu

Deutsche Grammophon China announced the exclusive signing of two outstanding young Chinese musicians, Yang Yang a guzheng prodigy and master pianist Ju Xiaofu on Tuesday. This marks a significant milestone in the renowned label's continued investment in the future of Chinese classical music.

Under these long-term agreements, DG China will support both artists through an integrated partnership spanning recordings, concerts, artist management, touring, repertoire development and brand collaborations, a full-spectrum model designed to support enduring artistic careers.

A photo of Yang Yang. [Photo courtesy of DG China]

Yang Yang is the first Chinese traditional instrumentalist signed to an exclusive full-service contract with DG China. She represents a new generation of musicians bringing heritage into contemporary focus.

"It is a tremendous honor to join DG China and begin a new chapter with the iconic Yellow Label, which I have long admired," Yang Yang said. "As a guzheng artist, I hope to bring a distinctively Eastern voice to this storied classical label through the instrument's 21 strings, and to explore how Chinese traditional music can speak to contemporary audiences in ways that feel fresh and meaningful while expanding true to its spirit and depth."

Yang Yang has performed Guo Wenjing's "Chun Wang" (Spring Gazing) at both the Vienna Konzerthaus and Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts. She has captivated both Chinese and international audiences with her nuanced yet intense interpretations.She has built a strong following among younger audiences in China through original projects and a large digital fanbase approaching one million followers across major platforms.

She does all of this at such a young age, but also whilst still a student herself, currently enrolled at the Central Conservatory of Music, pursuing a masters degree.

Ju Xiaofu joins DG China as thefirst signed pianist. A Juilliard graduate now studying in Hannover, he has performed at leading venues including Berlin Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, as well as with the China Philharmonic Orchestra and the China NCPA Orchestra. He has given Chinese premieres of works by Philip Glass and Messiaen, and released his debut album "Waldeinsamkeit" in 2025.

Ju said joining DG China is both deeply meaningful and profoundly inspiring for him. "The Yellow Label has been part of my musical imagination since childhood, and it is a great honor to now become part of that legacy," he said. "I hope that, together with Universal Music and DG China, I will be able to realize many of my artistic aspirations, release more recorded work and bring my music to ever larger stages."

Universal Music and DG executives and Ju Xiaofu (center) pose for a photo. [Photo courtesy of DG China]

DG China is the classical label launched by Universal Music Greater China (UMGC) in collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon. Since its launch in 2025, it has set out to discover and support a new generation of Chinese classical artists, drawing on the heritage and artistic leadership of Deutsche Grammophon together with UMGC's local market expertise and global infrastructure. The signing of Yang Yang and Ju Xiaofu reflects that mission, while expanding the label's artistic vision. These recent signings mark the first time in Deutsche Grammophon's nearly 130-year history that it has partnered with those focused onChinese traditional music.

"DG China was created to support exceptional Chinese musicians with long-term vision, world-class resources and a truly global platform," said Timothy Xu, chairman and chief executive officer of UMGC. "Yang Yang and Ju Xiaofu are both remarkable artists with distinctive voices, deep musical integrity and the potential to resonate far beyond China. We are proud to welcome them to DG China and to begin a comprehensive partnership that will accompany them across every dimension of their artistic journeys."

Zhao Zheng, head of DG China, said that from the start of shaping DG China, their ambition has been to build a platform that supports artists comprehensively — from talent identification and artistic direction to recording, touring, management, media projects and brand collaboration.

"Yang Yang and Ju Xiaofu are exactly the kind of young artists we hope to champion:deeply committed, highly individual and capable of opening new conversations around classical music and artistic expression in China today. We are excited to work closely with both of them over the long term and to help bring them to broader audiences at home and internationally," he added.