Voices of Pride: How AAPI Leaders and Artists Are Shaping the Future of Music

As hip-hop and R&B continue to evolve into a melting pot of diverse nationalities and backgrounds, for AAPI Month, Billboard explores the impact of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

With high-ranking executives like Mass Appeal’s Annie Chen and Amazon Music’s Frankie Yaptinchay serving as cornerstones for their respective companies while representing their AAPI community, this brings immense joy to their lives.

“It gives me an immense level of gratitude seeing more and more members of the AAPI community rising into prominent positions and making an impact across the industry,” Yaptinchay says. “Having the opportunity to represent our community is a tremendous honor that I don’t take for granted. In 2025, I’m inspired to see the next generation of AAPI leaders breaking barriers to carve new lanes for the AAPI artist and creator communities. I’m excited about new avenues for collaboration and global growth across the industry. It’s inspiring, and we’re only getting started. We’re all trying to make our parents proud!”

AAPI artists are also carving out their lanes with their indelible talents and charisma. Earlier this month, Sailorr released her debut project, From Florida’s Finest, after the success of her breakout single “Pookie’s Requiem.” Beyond her raw lyrics and radiant charisma, the Vietnamese-American singer honors her roots through symbolic expression — like her black-dyed teeth.

“Way back when, a lot of Southeast Asian women would dye their teeth black using various things, it depends on where you come from. My grandma had black teeth,” she told Billboard in February. “The very formative years of my life, when my parents were working, I was being watched by my grandma. She was my first look at what femininity is. It was an homage to her, but also, growing up in Florida, everybody has grillz. It’s a perfect intersection of where I come from and then where I come from.”

See what other executives and artists said below.