Universal Music Greater China acquires golden-era Mandopop catalog

Universal Music Greater China (UMGC) has acquired the Carrier Creative catalog, securing the recorded rights to iconic artists from the golden era of Chinese-language pop music in the 1980s and '90s.

(From left to right) Shirley Miao, Timothy Xu and Mark Liu pose at the master tape handover ceremony during the Universal Music China Summit 2026 in Beijing, June 3, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Universal Music Greater China]

The deal, which was announced at the Universal Music China Summit in Beijing on June 3, marks UMGC's first major catalog acquisition in the region.

The acquisition includes classics from legendary acts such as Little Tigers, Johnny Chiang, Nicky Wu, Alec Su and many other iconic Mandopop acts. Widely seen as a cornerstone of modern Chinese pop culture, the catalog helped shape the first golden age of youth pop across Asia and remains a cherished part of multiple generations' memories.

Timothy Xu, chairman and chief executive officer of UMGC, said: "The Little Tigers, Johnny Chiang and the broader Carrier Creative catalog represent one of the most important chapters in the history of Chinese-language popular music. These songs helped shape the sound, identity and collective memory of an entire generation. We are deeply grateful to Shirley Miao for her trust in placing this extraordinary catalog with Universal Music, and we will honor that trust by preserving its legacy while creating new possibilities for these works in the years ahead."

Shirley Miao, founder of Carrier Creative, said: "These songs have been my life's work. For nearly 40 years, I have devoted myself to caring for this catalog and carrying it through different eras. There is a great deal of emotion in finally passing it on. What matters most to me is knowing they are now in the hands of people and a company I truly trust."

The deal follows a 2025 partnership between UMGC and Skyhigh Entertainment, which restored and globally relaunched more than 600 recordings — including 24 classic albums from Little Tigers and Johnny Chiang — introducing a new generation to these defining works of Chinese pop music.

Mark Liu, chief executive officer of Skyhigh Entertainment, said: "Our work with Universal Music began with a shared goal: to bring these classics back to listeners in the best possible way. Through careful restoration, remastering and global streaming relaunch, we were able to preserve the warmth and character of the original recordings while adapting them for today's digital platforms."

With this acquisition, UMGC's catalog becomes one of the most extensive and culturally influential in the region, spanning more than half a century and encompassing many defining classics of Chinese popular music. The addition of the Carrier Creative catalog underscores UMGC's commitment to preserving and revitalizing culturally important Chinese-language repertoire for new generations worldwide.

Nicky Wu, singer and member of Little Tigers, also congratulated the partnership. "I believe Universal Music will carefully preserve the youth and memories we all shared together, while helping these classic songs from Chinese pop music continue to reach more audiences and travel even further for years to come," he said.

Legendary Mandopop singer-songwriter Johnny Chiang added: "Looking back on those years, every melody created during the Carrier Creative era remains a precious treasure of its time. I'm very happy to see these timeless classics become part of Universal Music's catalog legacy, and I hope they will continue to move new generations of listeners for many years ahead."