Warner Recorded Music today announced the opening of a new affiliate in Vietnam, one of the most exciting emerging markets in South East Asia with a population of some 100 million people. Warner Music Vietnam is based in Ho Chi Minh City and led by Manging Director Lisa Nguyen.
Nguyen joins Warner Music Vietnam after serving as Head of Zing Media, the digital media specialist owned by Vietnam’s VNG Corporation, for the previous three years. She will report to Simon Robson, President, Warner Music Asia.
The company has hit the ground running and already signed a number of domestic acts – including Vũ and Chillies. Last week, Warner Music Vietnam had four of the top five tracks on Spotify in Vietnam. ‘Vùng Ký Ức’, Chillies’ debut single with Warner, was Number One, while their catalogue track ‘Mascara’ was at Number Five, with Dua Lipa claiming the second and third spots.
It’s the latest expansion for Warner Recorded Music, which last month announced that it was opening in India, and over the last year has opened offices in Turkey and Peru, acquired labels such as Monsp in Finland and Forza in Slovakia, and announced a partnership with Chocolate City in Nigeria.
Simon Robson says: “This is a crucial moment in the development of Vietnam’s digital music market and it’s vital that we have a presence on the ground. I’m delighted that Lisa is heading our team as she’s highly respected in the Vietnamese music community, combining impressive marketing and A&R skills with a great understanding of the local music scene. This is a milestone moment in Warner’s strategy of expanding its international footprint in our ever more globalized music market.”
Lisa Nguyen adds: “It’s an honor to lead Warner Recorded Music’s expansion into Vietnam. We’ve long had a thriving local music scene and a love for global acts, and now we can harness that huge enthusiasm. We’re hitting the ground running and signing some amazing artists, while exposing a new huge audience to our brilliant international acts.”
Nguyen graduated with an Economics degree from The University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City, before joining Nielsen Vietnam as a research analyst intern. She joined VNG Corporation as a Senior Product Development Executive in 2012 and by 2015 the company appointed her Head of Zing Media.
