Warner Music Asia and SOSV have agreed on a partnership in order to “boost tech innovation in the music sector,” the VC announced in a statement on Thursday. Warner will invest in startups that are part of SOSV’s accelerator programs, Chinaccelerator and MOX (Mobile Only Accelerator).
Chinaccelerator was the first accelerator in Asia and aims to help companies access the Chinese market, while MOX is helping startups to target mobile-first smartphone users in Southeast Asia and India.
“Bringing Warner Music’s expertise in music and media together with SOSV’s capital and ecosystem of founders, more than 300 mentors, and global community will prove a powerful force for disruption,” said William Bao Bean, general partner at SOSV. “We’re excited to be partnering with SOSV to discover the next generation of startup talent,” said Simon Robson, president of Warner Music Asia.
Founded in 1958, Warner Music Group is an American record label, which listed on Nasdaq in June 2020. Shortly after, Tencent Music acquired 8 million shares, or 1.6% of the company that features international artists like Cardi B, Ed Sheeran, or Bruno Mars.
US-based SOSV has invested in more than 1000 early-stage startups, including several in the music industry, such as Guitar Hero, GarageBand, and Harmonix.