China's defining musical theater voice Ayanga joins the artist roster of Universal Music

Universal Music Greater China has announced that Ayanga, a Chinese musical theater artist and powerhouse vocalist, has joined Universal Music's global roster. This comes on April 23 as Universal Music China moved to a new office in Beijing and continues to expand its business in China.

(From L to R) Timothy Xu, Ayanga, Adam Granite pose for a photo. [Photo courtesy of Universal Music Greater China]

"I'm very honored to join the Universal Music family," Ayanga said. "I've always believed that art should move freely across forms, and that music can carry emotion, story and imagination far beyond any one stage. What excites me about this new chapter is the opportunity to create work without boundaries, to keep expanding my artistic language and to bring that expression to a broader international audience."

Ayanga, whose name means "thunder" in Mongolian, is artistic director of musical theater at the Beijing Dance Drama & Opera. He rose to national fame in 2019 as a champion of the TV competition "Super Vocal." He released the album "The Art" in 2020, which reached platinum certification within one minute and diamond status in under two days on digital platforms.

Ayanga is a leading figure in Chinese musical theater. He was the first Chinese performer to play the Phantom in the Mandarin production of "The Phantom of the Opera," also serving as co-producer. He produced and starred in the Mandarin production of "The Count of Monte Cristo," the first licensed Chinese version in its 14-year history. He also starred in the Mandarin production of "Romeo and Juliet." For the original Chinese musical "The Message," he served as chief producer. The production toured widely across China, achieved major commercial success and became a landmark for homegrown Chinese musicals.

His work also extends to film, TV, gaming and national events. He has contributed songs to "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms," Disney's "The Little Mermaid," the Chinese-language version of "Try Everything" for Shanghai Disney Resort's Zootopia expansion, and "Ripple" for "Genshin Impact." He has appeared twice on China's Spring Festival Gala and was invited to the 76th Tony Awards in New York.

Next, Universal Music China will support Ayanga in expanding his recording and touring career, bringing the emotional scale and narrative depth of musical theater into contemporary music, particularly for international audiences while shaping a distinctive cross-genre identity.

Adam Granite, executive vice president of Universal Music Group, said "We're seeing a new generation of Chinese artists emerge whose work is shaped by rich and distinctive artistic traditions. Ayanga's artistic language has been shaped by musical theater, a form grounded in storytelling and emotional expression that can travel across cultures. We're excited to partner with him on this next chapter and help bring his music to new audiences around the world."

Timothy Xu, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Music Greater China, added "He is an artist of remarkable talent, vision and expressive power. We look forward to working with him as he expands the boundaries of his artistry, enters a new chapter in his creative life and connects with audiences in China and around the world."

Ayanga's signing was unveiled during Universal Music China's Beijing office opening in the presence of company leadership and industry partners, marking a new chapter for both the artist and the company. The collaboration reflects Universal Music China's commitment to supporting distinctive artistic voices and advancing its long-term vision for artist development and global cultural exchange.

Just a day prior to the signing, Universal Music China also appointed veteran music executive Sam Hu as managing director of Universal Music China and senior vice president of Universal Music Greater China. Hu will oversee the company's operations and strategic development in China. The focus going forward will be on artist development, local market growth and the continued expansion of Chinese artists through Universal Music Group's global network.