Paul “Pooh” Lunt, the mogul behind “Gangnam Style,” is betting on the Philippines to lead Asia’s next pop revolution.
The private music mogul behind “Gangnam Style” is betting on the Philippines as the next epicenter of global pop.
Paul “Pooh” Lunt isn’t a household name, but his business instincts have helped shape the modern music industry. The Hawaii-born chef-turned-music-entrepreneur first made headlines by securing the global licensing rights to Gangnam Style, the viral hit by South Korean rapper PSY. That single didn’t just break YouTube; it changed Lunt’s life. “It was a turning point,” he has said. “And I’ll always be grateful to PSY for what that song allowed me to build.”
Today, what Lunt is building may be his most ambitious project yet: transforming the Philippines into Asia’s next global music powerhouse.
As President and CEO of Popolo Music Group, Lunt is developing a new creative hub in Manila. With operations based in Manila, Los Angeles, and Seoul, Popolo is signing and producing Filipino talent for international audiences. His approach combines global production standards with distinctly Filipino storytelling—a formula he believes could ignite a new “Filipino Wave.”
“The Philippines has everything,” Lunt says. “It’s the most English-fluent country in Asia. The talent is here. The hunger is here. What’s been missing is the infrastructure to take it global.”
To close that gap, he’s also launching Popolo Live, a global touring and concert promotion platform set to debut in late 2025. The goal is to ensure that Filipino artists can perform anywhere in the world—from Toronto to Berlin—with the same visibility and resources as their Korean or Western counterparts.
While many compare his approach to the K-pop model, Lunt draws a line. “Korea created something remarkable, and I learned a lot by watching it closely,” he says. “But I’m not here to copy it. I’m here to create something that reflects Filipino culture, emotion, and soul.”
One of Lunt’s most anticipated projects involves pop superstar Sarah Geronimo. Sources confirm that Popolo is developing original material tailored to introduce her to new global audiences. Talks with Viva Records will soon be underway for a potential co-produced album that blends multilingual songs and world-class production.
Behind the scenes, Popolo has quietly begun developing a roster of rising Filipino artists—from R&B vocalists to genre-blending experimental acts—all under the guidance of an international production team sourced from Seoul, London, and Los Angeles.
Despite his growing influence, Lunt remains intensely private. He rarely appears in public, avoids interviews, and is often described as “invisible by design.” He credits music moguls Clive Davis and LA Reid as key influences—not for their celebrity, but their ability to shape talent from behind the scenes.
With Popolo Music and Popolo Live, Lunt isn’t just launching a label—he’s building a system that could finally give Southeast Asia, and the Philippines in particular, its long-overdue spotlight on the world music stage.
“I’m not chasing fame,” he says. “I’m building something that lasts.”
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