Warner Music Group’s Partnership with Japanese Music Group
Music Group Warner (WMG) has entered into a global recording partnership with the Japanese dance and vocal group, Mental Fever.
The group, which debuted in 2022 under LDH Japan, has signed with Warner Music Japan in collaboration with 10k Projects in the USA. Mental Fever has already established a strong presence in Japan and is experiencing rapid growth in Southeast Asian markets, particularly in the Philippines and Thailand.
Their first single under the Warner Music label is set for release in June 2025.
Celebrating the New Signing
To commemorate the signing, Mental Fever spoke at the WMG office in Los Angeles during their ongoing tour across six cities in the United States. The performance featured their hit songs, including Just Like This and What’s Happening.
“Mental Fever truly impressed us with their outstanding performance. The group is exploding in Asia, and the 10k team is excited to play a role in connecting them with a wider audience in America and beyond,” said Molly Maklhlan, Co-chairman of 10k Projects.
“The group explodes in Asia, and the 10k team is glad to play a role in their combination with a wider audience in America and around the world.”
Molly Maklhlan, 10k Projects
Takeshi Okada, President and Executive Director of Warner Music Japan, stated: “We are delighted that Mental Fever chose Warner Music as their partner for their global debut.”
“As the unique evolution of Japanese musical culture continues to capture global attention, we remain committed to ensuring that Japanese artists and their music reach audiences worldwide.”
Expanding Global Reach
The global partnership with WMG encompasses strategic plans and advanced digital marketing efforts to enhance the group’s international presence.
“With the support of Warner Music Group, we are eager to embrace new challenges and attain even greater successes on the international music stage.”
Hiroyuki Igarashi, LDH Japan
Hiroyuki Igarashi, Chairman, General Director, and CCO of LDH Japan, added: “Mental Fever is a group formed to make an impact on the world stage.”
“With the support of Warner Music Group, we are eager to embrace new challenges and achieve even greater successes on the international music platform.”
This signing comes as Japanese music continues to gain international recognition. According to data from Luminate, in 2023, Japanese-language music saw its global market share increase to 2.1% from 1.3% in 2022.
In addition to Warner Music, other major music companies like Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group have also been focusing on Japanese music and artists. In November, Manabu Tsujino, President of Sony Music Labels, noted that “for Japanese music to penetrate the global market, synergy with anime is crucial.”
Universal Music Japan, a division of Universal Music Group, announced last week that it acquired a controlling stake in the Japanese music company A-Sketch, which manages artists and labels, including popular Japanese acts like Daring Dog, Flaml, and Ayuma Imaz.
The new partnership between Warner Music and 10k Projects comes a year after the two companies launched a joint venture, resulting in 10k Projects operating as an independent label within the WMG ecosystem, having its roster and team integrated into the WMG framework.
Warner Music signs global deal with Japanese group PSYCHIC FEVER
