Asia is 60% of the world's population. Japan is the second-largest music market on Earth. Spotify's fastest-growing region is Southeast Asia. But you cannot treat Asia as one market. A fan in Jakarta uses different platforms, speaks a different language, and discovers music differently than a fan in Tokyo.
Latin music is no longer a niche. It is 9.5% of all US streaming. Bad Bunny was the #2 artist in America in Q1 2026. If you are not thinking about the Latin market, you are ignoring one of the fastest-growing audiences in the world.
Africa is the fastest-growing music region in the world. Afrobeats sells out stadiums in London. Amapiano dominates TikTok globally. But Africa is 54 countries, not one market. The artists who succeed there are the ones who pick a country, build real relationships, and respect the culture.
The US is the world's largest music market. It is also the hardest to enter. An O-1 visa now costs nearly $3,000, takes months to process, and filters out artists who cannot afford the upfront investment. The question is not whether you should break into the US. It is whether you can afford to.
MCSC is China's non-profit collective management organization for music copyright, founded in 1992. With over 16,000 members and 24 million registered works, it collected a record 477 million RMB in licensing revenue in 2024 and operates 20 branch offices across China.
Horus Music is a UK-based digital music distributor founded in 2006, offering unlimited distribution to 150+ stores for £20/year (approximately $25/year) with 100% royalty retention. Also offers pay-per-release pricing for artists who prefer not to subscribe. Distributes to stores in Asia and China through direct DSP deals. Based in Manchester, England.
Musicinfo is a Finland-based music distributor founded in 2012, headquartered in Jyvaskyla, Finland. Specializes in distribution to China and South Korea with 56+ Chinese and South Korean platforms, the most of any distributor for these regions. Also offers global distribution to 70+ platforms. Uses a pay-per-release model starting at $32 per release with 15% commission. Exclusive partnership with Taihe Music Group provides unprecedented access to Chinese audiences. Includes sync opportunities to China at no additional cost. Best for artists who want to reach the Chinese and South Korean music markets.
