We recently connected with Jiajun Ouyang and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jiajun thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Yes, definitely. I truly believe people are meant to do what they’re naturally drawn to and good at. Everyone has a purpose. If everyone just went into tech, medicine, or law, who would be here to discover and create the music that moves people?
It’s tempting to think the grass is greener on the other side. Let’s be real—tech jobs pay way more, require fewer hours, and offer incredible work-life balance. Meanwhile, music is brutally competitive, the pay is unpredictable, and the work never really stops—it’s just like The Devil Wears Prada. I won’t lie, the thought of having stability and a clear career trajectory crosses my mind a lot.
I’ve imagined myself coding in front of a sleek computer, grinding my way up the corporate ladder. And honestly, if you’ve seen the offices of Meta, Google, or TikTok, you understand why people chase those jobs. Even I’d kill for a role at Spotify. But deep down, I know—no matter how good the paycheck or the perks—there’d always be that voice inside me, nagging, asking why I abandoned what truly lights me up.
At the end of the day, I only get one life. No salary, no fancy office, no distraction is ever going to silence the part of me that’s wired for music. So I have to live my truth.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi guys, my name is Derek Ouyang, and I am a Music Business professional and songwriter. I currently work for the A&R department at Warner Records. In the A&R department, we sign artists and pair artists with writers and producers to deliver great records. Some artists from our roster you may know are Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, Dua Lipa, Zach Bryan, and Omar Apollo. I provide executive support to our A&R dept and coordinate sessions and deliverables for our roster. What sets me apart from others is my genuine passion for artists and music, not just from the business perspective but from the artists’ perspective as well. I really care about the music itself. Does it move hearts and make an impact sonically and lyrically? Does it give me goosebumps when I hear it? Moreover, artistry and artist identity are of utmost importance. I always say this, but you can’t market a bad song, so the music itself is so crucial. And you have to really live in your vision and embrace your identity. I think in the age of data and following, we need to tune out the noise and truly hone in what moves the needle and shifts culture.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

This is such a good question. Society needs to do a way better job of supporting artists and creatives because, honestly, so much of what we consume—music, film, fashion, design—is built on their work, yet they’re often the last to get real support. Here’s what would actually help:
Pay artists fairly. Exposure doesn’t pay rent. More grants, fair contracts, and industry-wide protections against underpayment and exploitation need to be standard.
Make it easier to afford living & working spaces. Rising costs in major creative cities push artists out. Subsidized studio spaces, affordable housing, and tax breaks for creatives would go a long way.
Fund the arts properly. Governments and private organizations should invest more in arts funding instead of cutting it every time there’s a budget issue.
Stop cutting arts programs. Schools prioritizing STEM over everything else is killing creativity. A thriving society values both logic and artistry.
Teach creatives how to actually sustain a career. Business, branding, financial literacy—these should be standard for anyone pursuing an artistic field.
More mentorship & networking opportunities. Connections make or break careers in creative industries, and access to real guidance should be easier.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

True artists and creatives will probably relate to this the most. You don’t do art for a particular reason. You feel it in your bones that this is what you meant to do and you don’t care about the external validations, the followers, etc because you know this is what you have to do, and the external world will catch up to your vision. This is what makes a true artist is you do it cause you have to because this is what you’re called to do as you mission in this lifetime. And if you don’t, it will creep in and whisper in your ears every now and then, so you can’t ignore them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derek_ouyang/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-ouyang/