Exclusive Interview: Cherriana Wang, Rising Star at Sony Music Entertainment, Reflects on Journey and Future Aspirations

Meet Cherriana Wang, a remarkable talent who, at the age of twenty-three, has seamlessly transitioned from being a provincial singing champion in China to becoming the Artist Development and Marketing Fellow at Sony Music Entertainment’s New York headquarters. As the youngest member in the office of the Chief Operating Officer, Cherriana stands as the sole Chinese national among frontline staff, bringing a unique perspective and energy to the industry.

Pop Culturalist spoke with Cherriana about the pivotal moments that led her to her thriving career at Sony Music, her remarkable accomplishments, the evolving music landscape, and showcasing international talent on the global scale.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music and realize that a career in this industry was the path for you?
Cherriana: The experience of being a child actor on TV and later becoming a musician and artist during my teenage years has showcased my talents and undoubtedly fueled my passion for the entertainment industry, especially the music sector.

Additionally, I started learning classical piano at the age of six and taught myself guitar at fourteen. I also gained proficiency in the Guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument. Being able to handle multiple instruments has broadened my perspective in the music world and facilitated inspiration for writing my original songs.

Therefore, instead of saying I discovered my passion for music, I believe it’s more accurate to say that my passion for music found me. I firmly believe that my life’s path was destined to lead me into the music industry, much like following a Northern Star rather than stumbling upon it by accident. I am convinced that when I love and am also proficient at what I do every day, I can recognize and realize that this is the path for me deep within my heart.

PC: You’ve already achieved considerable success in your young career. When you reflect on your journey, is there a moment that stands out to you?
Cherriana: Thank you for your kind words. Despite the accomplishments, I still consider myself a newcomer, and I genuinely cherish every opportunity and project I’ve had the privilege to lead, as each one contributes significantly to building my career step by step.

Among these experiences, a recent one in Dubai holds special significance and stands out prominently in my career. It involved the management and operation of the Sony Music Entertainment Asia and Middle East Strategy Meeting in Dubai, UAE, at the end of 2023. This marked my first business trip abroad and my inaugural visit to Dubai. I was honored to receive recognition and trust from leadership to contribute to organizing this innovative and crucial conference, which represented the first time Sony Music combined annual conferences for Asia and the Middle East, signaling a new era.

Furthermore, I had the unique position of being the youngest speaker at the meeting. Amidst executive participants from New York and various countries, I shared my insights into the international promotion of music and artists on the world stage. Playing a pivotal role in the completion and presentation of this significant international conference significantly broadened my horizon and enhanced my skills and experience.

PC: You have made a significant impact with the work you’ve done at Sony Music Entertainment. What advice would you give to aspiring professionals who may want to start a career in this industry?
Cherriana: During my professional development presentation at Sony Music in November, I emphasized the importance of determination and confidence in pursuing one’s dreams to other young professionals at Sony Music. I firmly believe that it’s crucial to approach challenges fearlessly, viewing them as opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Meanwhile, maintaining humility and proactivity is equally crucial. Seize the chance to learn from others, and don’t hesitate to reach out, ask questions, and foster open communication. Trust that each step taken daily contributes to shaping the professional you aspire to become.

PC: Throughout your work with Sony Music Entertainment, you’ve helped amplify the voices of many Asian creatives and played a crucial role in pushing forward much-needed representation. Why has that been so important to you? Have you had time to reflect on the contributions you’ve made?
Cherriana: I appreciate the acknowledgment, but I believe it’s also attributed to outstanding teamwork. Our ultimate goal is always to showcase international talents on the global stage, making music masterpieces more accessible to a wider audience.

On a personal level, my roots and passion for various music genres across all the different Asian countries have been a strong driving force. As a Gen-Z international student for six years before embarking on my full-time record label career, I’ve witnessed the remarkable growth of K-Pop. It has evolved from a niche genre in the U.S. during my college years to currently becoming one of the most dominant genres worldwide. I’m impressed and proud to see an Asian pop music genre achieve such global recognition. However, I believe that behind the scenes, there must have been unexpected and hard-to-evaluate efforts from K-Pop talents and industry professionals over the decades to achieve this milestone.

K-Pop’s success has inspired me, fueling my determination to contribute my passion and capabilities to help elevate more international artists and music genres to the next level. It’s about fostering an environment where diverse voices can thrive, and the global audience can appreciate the richness of musical expressions from different cultures.

Holding onto this faith and passion strongly, I always take time to reflect on whether I have been contributing enough to the artists, and I believe that I have done well. Looking back, I am still very proud of my key role and contribution to the Sury in NYC campaigns, where I led the collaboration with Sony Music China artist Su Ruiqi (Sury Su)’s team, the New York University Student Associations, and numerous local influencers to orchestrate groundbreaking promotion events. These events not only efficiently enhanced Sury’s presence among the Gen-Z community in NY but also marked her as the first-ever C-Pop singer to speak at New York University.

PC: As you look ahead to the next five to ten years, what do you hope to accomplish? Is there anything that you’re currently working on that you can talk about?
Cherriana: Predicting accurately in the dynamic, globalized, and digitized music industry over a decade is not easy. However, I am confident about the future landscape and market, and determined to elevate more international artists onto the world stage and offer audiences a diverse range of incredible music in the coming years.

Currently, I am actively involved in meticulously tracking and evaluating our artists and their upcoming releases from Asia for the coming months in 2024. I am selecting priorities from this vast continent that contains a long and diverse list of talent rosters to support and invest more in, with the goal of helping them break into the larger global stage. This process is both exciting and carries significant responsibility, as we must ensure the best support and career path for our priority talents by collaborating closely and efficiently with various internal and external parties. Our aim is to provide the global audience with exceptional music that matches their demands, exceeds their expectations, and even leads the trends.

Photo Credit: Miller Studio based in Zhejiang, China