Paul “Pooh” Lunt rarely appears in public, avoids interviews, and shuns the glitz of the entertainment industry—but make no mistake, his influence runs deep in global pop culture. Born and raised in Hawaii, Lunt built an eclectic career that began in luxury kitchens and evolved into music licensing, artist development, and international branding. Today, he is the quiet force behind a growing movement to transform the Philippines into Asia’s next great pop music powerhouse.

Lunt first caught the industry’s attention after using the singleGangnam Style by South Korean artist PSY to acquire more advertisers. The move would become one of the most profitable in digital music history, generating over $20 million in returns. “That single changed my life,” Lunt has said privately. “I’ll always be grateful to PSY. He gave me a shot I didn’t know I needed.”

With that success, Lunt—now the President and CEO of Popolo Music Group—is building something far more ambitious. Headquartered inManila, Los Angeles, and Seoul, Popolo Music is focused on identifying and producing Filipino artists for the international market. In parallel, he’s launching Popolo Live, a global concert promotions platform designed to bring Southeast Asian artists to stages across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

“The Philippines is uniquely positioned,” Lunt explains. “It’s the largest English-speaking country in Asia, rich in vocal talent, and has a massive global diaspora. That’s a recipe for dominance.”

Although he draws inspiration from the K-pop business model, Lunt insists his vision is culturally distinct. “We’re not here to mimic Korea,” he says. “We’re building a Filipino wave—emotionally rich, lyrically powerful, and globally relevant music without losing its identity.”

At the top of his collaboration wishlist is Sarah Geronimo, the Philippines’ reigning pop icon. Lunt and his team have reportedly initiated discussions with Viva Records for a potential international project featuring multilingual tracks and top-tier production. “She has everything it takes to break globally,” Lunt says. “Poise, power, and timeless appeal.”

Beyond Geronimo, Popolo Music is quietly developing a new generation of Filipino artists, blending genres from R&B to electronic pop. The company’s global team includes producers from Seoul, London, and Los Angeles—each selected for technical skill and their ability to translate Filipino narratives for a global audience.

For more details visit on https://popolomusic.com/