EMPIRE is officially stepping into Asia as the powerhouse independent label announces the appointment an executive with a track record of fostering crossover talent.
Known for being pivotal in developing several breakout Asian acts, Jeffrey Yoo has been appointed EMPIRE’s senior vp of East Asia, the company announced on Thursday (Oct. 31). The seasoned exec will oversee signings and artist development across Asia and the diaspora in his new role. The first high-profile addition under Yoo’s new tenure is K-pop icon G-Dragon, who released “POWER,” his first single in seven years, in partnership with EMPIRE on Thursday.
Earlier in his career, Yoo discovered and managed South Korea’s mysterious vocal wunderkind DEAN (who helped connect Korean R&B with audiences abroad thanks to collaborations with Anderson .Paak and SYD) and consulted for 88Rising to develop and help break Chinese pop star Jackson Wang (whose most recent album, Magic Man, hit No. 15 on the Billboard 200 in 2022 in tandem with 88rising). Last year, he partnered with Tricky, Mark and Judi Stewart on RZ3 Recordings via a joint venture deal with Epic Records; he also previously launched Quantum Mirror Publishing.
“I am excited to be joining the team at EMPIRE and I feel like my years in the music business have led me to this opportunity,” Yoo said in a statement. “Ghazi has done an amazing job of creating a company and a culture of authentic diversity. I especially appreciate his understanding and commitment to not only investing in Asian artists but also Asian executive talent.”
EMPIRE CEO/founder Ghazi added, “The goal at EMPIRE has always been to bring music and culture to a global audience, so further establishing our footprint across the Asian market reinforces our commitment to that. Jeffrey’s knowledge and respect in the music business is unmatched, and he is the perfect fit to spearhead our efforts across the Asian region.”
With teams already in the U.S., Europe, Africa and the Middle East, EMPIRE’s expansion into Asia aligns with its mission to develop the next wave of international superstars across its label, distribution and publishing arms.