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Time Business News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Paul 'Pooh' Lunt: The Architect of P-Pop's Global Future
COVER FEATURE: MAN BEHIND THE MOVEMENT You may not recognize his face, but you're already feeling the shockwaves of his ambition. Paul 'Pooh' Lunt, the enigmatic cultural strategist and founder of Popolo Music Group (PMG), has long worked behind the scenes—but now, he's stepping into the frame to lead the charge for Filipino music on the global stage. Known for his uncanny instinct for talent and strategy, Lunt helped steer the global rollout of 'Gangnam Style' in its early stages. Today, he is reimagining what Filipino pop music can be. In this rare and revealing interview, Lunt opens up about his Filipino roots, his shift from artist to executive, and why he believes PMG isn't just a label—it's a movement. One that will change the future of Asian music. Jerry Santos: Paul, thank you for joining us. Let's start at the beginning. What's your personal connection to the Philippines? Paul Lunt: I'm from an international family. I am a combination of Native American, Pacific Islander, Cuban, Chinese, and Yemenite ancestry, and I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. I grew up surrounded by Filipino values—hard work, humility, and a deep love for music. My childhood was a mix of karaoke nights, home-cooked meals, and multicultural storytelling. Even as I traveled the world, that part of me never left. Jerry: You started out as a performer. What made you step back from that path? Paul Lunt: I loved performing, but I realized I was more interested in building stages than standing on them. I found joy in helping others shine—writing, producing, mentoring. That pivot changed everything. I got involved in business development, entertainment infrastructure, and eventually global pop strategy. Jerry: One of those milestones was your involvement with Gangnam Style . What role did you play? Paul Lunt: I was part of the international business and strategy team that helped position it for global release. We worked on licensing, digital rollouts, and market penetration. We leveraged the song's popularity to pair it with advertising, which made the artist happy with the publishing deal, and our lives also changed in the process. I was struggling with keeping up with the payments for the two homes I then owned. Now I own five, and they are all paid for. What I learned from that experience was clear: authenticity wins. PSY didn't chase trends—he owned his culture. That's exactly how I approach P-Pop. Jerry: And that brings us to Popolo Music Group. Paul Lunt: PMG is more than a label. It's a creative and cultural ecosystem for artists. We train them, protect their rights, give them global infrastructure, and let them lead their own narrative. This isn't just music—it's empowerment. Jerry: Who are the current PMG acts? Paul Lunt: Our first wave includes: LUNARIA , our celestial girl group blending ethereal pop and multilingual storytelling. We may change the name as there is another band fighting us. , our celestial girl group blending ethereal pop and multilingual storytelling. We may change the name as there is another band fighting us. BOLERO BOYS , our emotionally complex boy band with strong visuals and choreography. , our emotionally complex boy band with strong visuals and choreography. ARIA , a powerhouse female soloist with vocal depth and crossover potential. , a powerhouse female soloist with vocal depth and crossover potential. CHIQUITA X, our experimental solo artist fusing trap with Filipino folk instrumentation. And I'm excited to share this: our next big act, THE BOLERO BOYS, is in the final phase of development. They're going to bring modern flair to classic Filipino harmony—think old-school romance meets streetwear swagger. Jerry: When will we hear the first official PMG release? Paul Lunt: The rollout begins this September with Aria's debut single, followed closely by Lunaria's EP and Aria's first music video. By December, you'll hear the Bolero Boys. There is already a limited edition of the single She Can Do It All Night out there to test the market. We've been developing everything in-house—choreography, songwriting, even directing. We're making sure every release is a statement . Jerry: PMG isn't just focused on music production. Tell us about Popolo Live. Paul Lunt: Popolo Live is our global touring division. We don't want Filipino artists only opening for others. We also want them headlining. We've already launched our Islands Rising series in Manila, Dubai, and Europe. Next stops: Los Angeles, Doha, New York, Tokyo, and Sydney. These aren't dreams—they're being booked. Jerry: You've expressed admiration for Viva Records. Can you talk about that? Paul Lunt: Viva built the foundation that made everything we're doing possible. I have deep respect for Boss Vic and Vincent del Rosario. They carried OPM through decades of industry storms. If there's an opportunity to collaborate—whether that's artist mentorship or a joint cultural project—PMG is ready. Jerry: That ties into the Sarah Geronimo rumors. Are you trying to work with her? Paul Lunt: [Smiles] I'd be honored. Sarah is iconic. If she ever wants to create a legacy-defining piece with a new generation of talent, we would give her full creative freedom and a global platform. That would be more than a collaboration—it would be history. We wrote five songs for her and we are eager to present them to her and convince her to record them. Jerry: Where do you see P-Pop and PMG five years from now? Paul Lunt: P-Pop will be on the Grammy stage. PMG artists will be headlining Coachella. Filipino music will no longer be the underdog. It'll be a standard. And behind it, you'll see a community of creatives who refused to stay silent. That's the legacy I'm working toward. Jerry: Final message to young artists out there? Paul Lunt: Own your story. Don't copy. Don't wait for validation. Learn your craft, protect your rights, and be fearless. The world is ready for us. Let's give them something unforgettable. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
San Francisco Chronicle
14-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
This Bay Area mall is thriving with the help of Asian cuisine
An aging Bay Area mall is successfully trading some of its struggling big box stores for popular Asian food businesses, taking a page out of a playbook that's been successful elsewhere in the region. Serramonte Center in Daly City caused a stir earlier this year with the opening of Korean food market Jagalchi, which took over the 75,000-square-foot space that once housed a JCPenney. Now, more changes are ahead for the mall, including the new home of an award-winning dim sum restaurant; a popular ramen shop; and a major hot pot destination. The new investment capitalizes on the changing retail environment and move to online shopping, as well as the Bay Area's large Asian American population — 27% of Bay Area residents identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander. Along with drawing in customers looking for a bite to eat, the new restaurants could also create a ripple effect for surrounding tenants in the mall who may be struggling to stay afloat. 'With the addition of a large tenant like Jagalchi, which drives a lot of traffic to the shopping center, other tenants are gonna be benefiting and are already benefiting,' said Patrick Conway, the managing director for Regency Centers, which operates the mall. The first weekend it opened at Serramonte, it's estimated that Jagalchi brought in almost 100,000 people, Ashley Jung, the marketing manager at Jagalchi's corporate parent, Megamart, told the Chronicle. Along with a grocery store, the complex houses a restaurant called POGU, two bars, a butcher and a bakery. Next up, the old Kids Foot Locker will reopen later this year as the newest location of Marufuku Ramen, a chain the Chronicle ranked as one of the top ramen spots in the Bay. It's been a staple of San Francisco's Japantown since 2017. 'We hear that a lot of people come from (Daly City) into our restaurant in San Francisco, so we figured that this would be a perfect location,' Herrador said. In a space right next to Jagalchi, the James Beard-nominated dim sum restaurant Koi Palace will move its flagship location this December. This new space will be twice the size of their old one, which has been a Daly City staple for almost 30 years. And this month, it was also announced that China's largest hotpot chain will be coming to Serramonte. Haidilao, which has gone viral on Tik Tok, is known for its tableside entertainment through the form of an in-house 'boyband' that dances for customers. A lot has changed for Serramonte Center since it first opened in 1968 to serve the recently developed residential community of Serramonte. Gone are Longs Drugs, Kinney Shoes, and the department store Mervyn's — though Macy's, an original anchor tenant, remains. Previous efforts to bring back shoppers have mostly included design changes, like replacing the fountain with a koi pond in 2003 and expanding rest areas for customers. Regency Centers, which bought the property in 2017, is currently in the midst of a $37 million dollar renovation of the Serramonte Center, according to public filings. Adding Asian food businesses seemed like a natural next step for Serramonte, as other malls across the Bay Area have gone through a similar evolution. Santana Row in San Jose has emerged as a dining destination, and in particular, Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco has been thriving. It recently welcomed Le Soleil, a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant, and other businesses including Marugame Udon, Supreme Dumplings and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar have popped up in the past year. Asian food businesses are likely to find a strong foothold with an Asian American clientele, but they can also have a broad appeal, said Jung of Jagalchi. 'As a Korean grocery store, I guess we naturally attract a strong Korean and Asian customer base,' she told the Chronicle. 'But we're also seeing people of all backgrounds who are curious about Korean flavors and looking for new experiences.'
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Louisville shuts down employee groups in response to Kentucky anti-diversity law
Students walk across the University of Louisville campus. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) The University of Louisville has disbanded the UofL Women's Network and four other employee groups in response to a new state law. A former president of one of the disbanded groups criticized the action, telling the Kentucky Lantern it goes further than required by the Republican legislature's new ban on diversity initiatives in public higher education. Ricky Jones, former president of the UofL Black Faculty/Staff Association and professor of Pan-African Studies, said the employee resource groups provided safe spaces for underrepresented people and allowed them to have 'a unified voice to speak to the administration about issues.' Jones criticized administrators at UofL and other universities for bowing to political pressure on decisions about diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. He predicted the assault on diversity in Kentucky higher education will 'get worse before it gets better.' 'Higher education in Kentucky, for Black folk in particular, and for other groups that are being targeted, I think it's a lost cause at this point, unless something drastic changes. And we don't have leadership at these schools that are committed to making those types of changes, so we're in trouble.' In addition to the groups for Black and women faculty and staff, UofL has eliminated the Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association; Hispanic Latino Faculty and Staff Association; and the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association. After a review, some university resource groups 'were deemed not to be' in compliance with the new law, said UofL spokesperson John Karman. 'Our Employee Success Center will continue to explore ways to support meaningful engagement and to ensure all UofL faculty and staff are valued and supported,' Karman added. Employee resource groups, or ERGs, were created to 'promote a climate of inclusion and provide a place where employees can come together to network, create a strong sense of community, and share their concerns,' according to a now-removed UofL web page description. Earlier this year, Kentucky's Republican-controlled General Assembly passed House Bill 4, which eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and resources at all public universities and colleges within the commonwealth. The universities were directed to enact changes to meet the law's requirements by June 30, 2025. UofL and Kentucky's other public universities began reviewing policies in the spring shortly after the law was passed. Eastern Kentucky University adopted a viewpoint neutrality policy and a resolution saying EKU plans to comply with the law in May. Before the 2025 legislative session, the University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University disbanded their diversity offices amid scrutiny of DEI programs nationally. UofL President Gerry Bradley outlined how university administration reviewed programs and resources for compliance with the law in a June 27 email to campus. That included work groups reviewing areas of 'position analysis; policy analysis; admissions, financial aid and scholarships; and athletics.' The work group submitted recommendations to UofL's legal counsel and a Board of Trustees committee. The board considered policy changes during a June 26 meeting. Bradley wrote in his email that decisions to implement changes 'were difficult to make in the face of our work to build a culture of belonging — a culture that supports all, that is welcoming of all and reflects our community of care.' He acknowledged that people 'have felt hurt and abandoned during this process,' adding that he has 'heard your voices and understand the feelings expressed.' 'Let me assure you that I stand by my commitment to support and celebrate all of our community and meet their needs,' Bradley said. 'This matter will continue to spark important and necessary conversations about ideas of belonging, success, access to higher education and more. 'With this challenge comes an opportunity for all of us to remain committed to making the University of Louisville a place where we embrace differences and celebrate uniqueness. We will continue to do so with compassionate and steadfast resolve.' Jones, the UofL professor, said the university's actions speak louder than the president's words. He said the state's new anti-DEI law makes no mention of the kinds of employee groups that UofL ordered dismantled and said administrators chose to be 'more aggressive about anti-diversity moves' than the bill required. 'Either they agree with the uber-conservative legislators coming out of Frankfort who are doing real and meaningful harm to Black people, LGBTQ people and others' or 'they just don't care,' Jones said. 'I think it's just a feeling of hopelessness there right now,' he said. 'It's to the point now even those of us who have spoken out over the years, it's like, 'Speak out for what?' This is over.'
Washington Post
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Asian American, Pacific Islander comics are the main event in an LA comedy and cuisine festival
With the Belly Laughs Festival, an ambitious Asian American and Pacific Islander-centered comedy festival, the food is as important as the talent line-up. Every detail is intended to send a message of unabashed cultural pride. 'It's like we grew up kind of shying away and hiding our Asian-ness,' said Viv Wang, a volunteer festival producer with Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, or CAPE, who helped conceive the idea for the event. 'It just made a lot of sense to have comedy and food — these two ways that people can connect and just celebrate being Asian and having a place to feel cool to be Asian.'
Fashion Network
10-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
CFDA and Genesis launch 2025 AAPI Design Grant Program
Genesis and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have opened submissions for the third annual AAPI Design + Innovation Grant, a program dedicated to championing innovation in design within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Three designers will be selected by an advisory board to create collections that merge their Asian heritage with modern design. Supported by Genesis with a $40,000 grant for each participant and access to mentorship from influential industry leaders, the program provides resources and guidance to help designers realize their creative visions. Over the course of the 2025–2026 program, the designers will receive mentorship and embark on a research and trip to Seoul, South Korea, a journey intended to influence their final collections. The program will culminate in a presentation at Genesis House in February 2026, where a panel of judges will evaluate the completed designs. One finalist will be awarded an additional $60,000 to further grow their business, bringing their total potential funding to $100,000. "Now in its third year, the CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant continues to spotlight the groundbreaking work of emerging AAPI designers," said Steven Kolb, CEO and President of the CFDA. "This program is an important part of our efforts to support diverse talent and create more opportunities within the fashion industry." In February, Olivia Cheng of Dauphinette was named the second winner of the grant. Her final collection, "Clove", incorporated botanical elements such as 24k-gold electroplated gingko leaves and lotus flowers from her mother's garden, alongside urban influences inspired by Seoul.
