When the songs that defined a generation change hands, the music world listens.

On Monday, June 8, Universal Music Greater China (UMGC)—the Greater China arm of Universal Music Group—announced that it had acquired the recorded‑rights catalog of Carrier Creative, a treasure trove of 1980s and 1990s Mandopop recordings.

The deal was unveiled at UMGC’s inaugural China Summit in Beijing, a gathering that set the tone for the company’s renewed focus on the region.

Carrier Creative’s catalog is a cultural landmark.

It includes hits from the boy band Little Tigers, singer‑songwriter Johnny Chiang, and other icons such as Nicky Wu, Alec Su, You Huan Pai Dui, Hong Hai Er, and the Girl Group.

The announcement described the repertoire as “widely regarded as one of the foundational catalogs of the modern Chinese era” and noted that it “helped define the first golden age of Chinese‑language youth pop culture, and shaped the emotional memory of multiple generations across the Chinese‑speaking world.” The acquisition follows a partnership launched in 2025 between UMGC and Taiwan‑based Skyhigh Entertainment, which had managed the catalog until now.

That collaboration produced the restoration, remastering, and global streaming relaunch of more than 600 recordings and 66 albums, including 24 releases from Little Tigers and Johnny Chiang.

The catalog’s transfer to UMGC marks the company’s first catalog acquisition in the Greater China region.

“This catalog represents a very important chapter in the history of Chinese‑language popular music,” said UMGC Chairman and CEO Timothy Xu.

“We are deeply grateful to Shirley Miao for her trust in placing this extraordinary catalog with Universal Music.” Miao, the founder of Carrier Creative, expressed relief at the transfer, saying, “These songs have been my life’s work.

For nearly forty years, I have devoted myself to caring for this catalog and carrying it through different eras.

What matters most to me is knowing they are now in the hands of people and a company I truly trust.” Skyhigh Entertainment CEO Mark Liu echoed the sentiment.

“Our work with Universal Music began with a shared goal: to bring these classics back to listeners in the best possible way,” he said.

“Through careful restoration, remastering and global streaming relaunch, we were able to preserve the warmth and character of the original recordings while suited to today’s digital platforms.” The announcement arrived as China’s recorded‑music market continued to expand.

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), China overtook Germany to become the world’s fourth‑largest recorded‑music market in 2025.

China’s recorded‑music revenues grew 20.1 % year‑over‑year last year, the fastest rate among the world’s 20 largest markets.

UMGC’s broader strategy in the region includes a series of high‑profile deals.

In addition to the Carrier Creative acquisition, the company has signed exclusive global agreements with artists such as Liu Huan—known domestically as the “King of Chinese Pop”—and recently added Chinese singer‑songwriter‑producer Jason Zhang to its roster.

UMGC CEO Adam Granite said the China Summit “reflected the energy, ambition and investment we bring to this dynamic music market” and that the catalog deal “demonstrates our ongoing commitment to preserving China’s important musical heritage.” The acquisition is part of UMGC’s effort to strengthen its presence in Greater China and support the growth of local and regional music scenes.

The company plans to continue leveraging its global network to promote the catalog on streaming platforms worldwide, underscoring the growing importance of legacy catalogs in the digital music economy.

With this first catalog transaction in the region, UMGC signals its intent to build a comprehensive library of Chinese‑language music for both domestic and international audiences.

The catalog’s restoration and remastering work has already made the recordings available on global streaming services, and the company intends to expand the catalog’s reach further in the coming months.

By investing in local talent and heritage, UMGC positions itself as a key player in a Chinese music market that is expanding in size and influence.