Universal Music Group has launched a strategic partnership with S1, a Thai music distribution and publishing services business.
The partnership will see S1 and its network of content partners benefit from UMG’s global scale. UMG will also become a significant minority investor in S1.
Founded in 2001 by CEO Karlcharn Kongkatong and co-founder Apsornsopha Sariman, S1 has been a key player in Thailand’s digital music industry for more than two decades.
S1 has built strong positions across key Thai music and entertainment genres. In 2017, D1 was established to expand the group’s capabilities in music publishing, royalty administration, rights management and intellectual property development.
The integrated platform now offers partners a suite of services spanning distribution, publishing, production, licensing and artist services. The company also operates advanced in-house production facilities, including Dolby Atmos studios, visual production teams, and technology-driven audience monetisation systems.
Thailand’s overall recorded music market is the largest in Southeast Asia, and accounts for 23.8% of the region’s recorded music revenues, according to IFPI’s 2026 Global Music Report.
This partnership reflects our continuous commitment to Thai music
Calvin Wong
UMG has developed a strong presence in the market, driven by local repertoire, and through the development of key strategic partnerships with local labels. The partnership follows an initial collaboration between S1, Virgin Music Group and Universal Music Publishing Group.
Karlcharn Kongkatong will continue to lead S1 and D1 as CEO alongside the existing management team.
Calvin Wong (pictured), CEO of Universal Music South East Asia & Korea & SVP, Asia, said: “This partnership reflects our continuous commitment to Thai music and is an exciting next step in our strategy to expand our presence in high-growth markets. We are delighted to work closely with Karl, a visionary entrepreneur who has built the largest local distribution in Thailand and together take S1 to the next level.”
Karlcharn Kongkatong, CEO of S1 and D1, said: “This partnership is an important step for the future of Thai music. By combining S1’s digital distribution and production expertise, D1’s publishing and rights management capabilities, and UMG’s global network, we are creating a stronger platform to bring Thai artists, creators, and intellectual property to audiences worldwide.”
Apsornsopha Sariman, co-founder and general counsel of S1 and D1, added: “We believe long-term value in the music industry is built through strong rights management, sustainable partnerships, and investment in creative talent. This partnership creates new opportunities to further expand the global reach of Thai music and entertainment.”
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