Global music firm embraces songwriter Yang

Peermusic, one of the world's largest independent music-publishing companies based in the United States, has signed a long-term exclusive global deal with Yang Jionghan, the first Chinese singer-songwriter that the company has signed in its 86-year history.

At a recent news conference in Beijing, which opened with a half-hour performance by the 26-year-old Yang, Mary Megan Peer, the president of Peermusic's Asia Pacific and Strategic Markets, inked the contract with the pop-rock artist onstage.

"It's been over 20 years since we set up our office in Asia, and finally we are happy to sign our first Chinese artist," Peer says, adding that the move marks the company's official expansion into the Chinese market.