GagaOOLala, the global LGBTQ+ and Boys’ Love (BL)-focused streamer, announced its latest original Taiwanese-Thai musical BL series, “First Note of Love,” a heartwarming and inspiring story where music becomes the universal language of love, healing, and eventually, the courage to face one’s biggest fears.
The announcement was made in a press conference on Aug. 7 in Taipei, Taiwan.
“First Note of Love” is a 12-episode romantic series set to premiere on GagaOOLala and select streamers on Aug. 12, and is the BL debut of Chien Hung Lin, one of Taiwan’s newest and most promising directors.
"First Note of Love" (GagaOOLala)
“First Note of Love” centers on the story of Neil (Charles Tu), the frontman of the band “Magnet,” who withdraws from the spotlight, upon the tragic death of his brother cum bandmate, leaving his fans, including a young boy named Sea (Michael Chang), devastated.
Six years later, Sea, who is now a reclusive yet talented music whiz, is unexpectedly invited to work with his childhood idol, who remains haunted by his brother’s death and is struggling with anxiety and stage fright. Together, the two embark on a journey of musical healing, rediscovering their passion and dreams and sharing their newfound tune with the world.
The series brings together Taiwanese and Thai BL heartthrobs: Taiwan’s Charles Tu (“In My Heart,” “Love Beside Me,” “The Iron Four”), best known for his portrayal of Xiao Li Cheng in the beloved Taiwanese BL series, “HIStory4: Close to You” and Michael Chang from 2022’s hit BL, “My Tooth Your Love” and HBO’s “Who’s By Your Side,” as Neil and Sea.
The two leads are joined by Star Hunter Entertainment Thailand’s rising BL protégé “Jame” Kasama Kranjanawattana (“Gen Y,” “My Mate Match,” “Big Dragon”) as Orca, an indie Thai musician and a close friend of Neil’s and Taiwanese actor Tim Liu (“Guardian,” “The Lion’s Secret”) with his BL debut playing Reese, Neil’s agent who takes a liking to Orca.
Reflecting on his time as Neil, Charles Tu expressed, “Playing Neil has been both an honor and a blessing, allowing me to take on a role where I could truly express my love for music and my passion for the guitar. Through “First Note of Love,” Michael and I formed a deep bond, helping each other heal and finding the strength to move forward. I hope the audience can appreciate and resonate with the story we've brought to life.”
Director Lin, who has been recognized by the Taipei Film Award and the Taipei Golden Horse, Osaka Asian and Busan International film festivals, is the man behind one of Taiwan’s most critically acclaimed titles of 2023, “Salli.”
Lin stated, “The filming experience for this BL series has been nothing short of fantastic. With the support from the cast, the production team, the musicians, GagaOOLala and Warner Music Taiwan, I was able to fully convey a story of stunning beauty, tear-jerking laughter and heartwarming love without limits. 'First Note of Love' is pure and sincere, romantic and warm, just like all of the characters in it.”
Music takes center stage
“First Note of Love” goes beyond conventional BL themes by placing music at the core of the series. This focus highlights the universal power of music to heal, connect, and strike a chord with audiences globally.
Its emphasis on music is exemplified by GagaOOLala's collaboration with Warner Music Taiwan, which produced a tailor-made original soundtrack album.
Featuring an eclectic lineup of songs performed by Warner Music Taiwan and Warner Music Thailand, as well as lead actor Charles Tu, the eight track OST compilation spans diverse genres such as EDM pop, pop rock, soft rock, alternative, ballad, and indie rock, reflecting the series’ narrative and characters.
"First Note of Love" press conference (GagaOOLala)
The partnership between GagaOOLala and Warner Music Taiwan also represents a shared dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion by both companies.
Kok-Siew Yeo, managing director of Warner Music Taiwan, said, “We are pleased to partner with GagaOOLala on this exciting project, as it aligns with our commitment to fostering diverse perspectives and artistic expression. We are confident that the series' timeless narratives, brought to life through compelling storytelling and curated music, will resonate strongly with audiences worldwide. This partnership also reflects our ambition to showcase our artists and music to global communities."
Additionally, the series marks a significant milestone as the first Taiwanese-Thai musical BL co-production with most of the series shot in Kaohsiung, the largest port city of Taiwan and a growing destination for the nation’s music, live events and entertainment industry.
The concert venue for a roster of national (Jolin Tsai, A-Mei, Mayday), regional (Highlight, Ronald Cheng, Tanya Chua) and international (Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Blackpink, Westlife) artists, the city is also home to one of Taiwan’s most recent and advanced musical landmarks, the Kaohsiung Pop Music Center. This, along with Kaohsiung’s vibrant cultural spirit and other attractions, are featured throughout “First Note of Love.”
Bridging cultures, economies and nations through BL
“First Note of Love” also stands as an ambitious effort to foster strategic synergies among the three major Asian BL hubs of Taiwan, Thailand and Japan. This is reflected in the artistic and musical inputs for the cross-national series coming from Warner Music Taiwan and Warner Music Thailand, international talents from Star Hunter Entertainment Thailand, investments from the Kaohsiung Film Fund, Video Market and Rakuten TV Japan and the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), as well as subsidy from the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development of the Taiwanese Ministry of Culture.
Once considered a niche, the BL genre has gained mainstream popularity, attracting a large audience and active fandom in Asia and beyond.
In 2021, Japan's BL market was valued at approximately 21.2 billion yen ($192 million), according to Yano Research Institute.
The same year, Thailand's BL streaming rights generated 360 million baht ($10.2 million) in foreign investment, with its export value exceeding 1.5 billion baht ($42.6 million) in 2022 based on data from Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion.
In 2023 alone, a total of around 217 BL titles had aired, as per MyDramaList. Together, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand make for the key BL content hubs in Asia, promoting pro-LGBTQ+ stories that are believed to bring visibility and contribute to real-world change for the community, such as Taiwan's historic legalization of same-sex marriage in 2019 and Thailand's similar milestone in June 2024.
Jay Lin, founder and CEO of GagaOOLala and Portico Media, highlights the potential of BL being a collaborative nexus between these key production hubs.
"At GagaOOLala, we are committed to producing high-quality, big-budget Originals like “First Note of Love.” To achieve this, we need local and global co-production partners to share the risks and rewards of these creative projects. These strategic partnerships are also essential for expanding our distribution beyond GagaOOLala, widening our audience reach, and exploring new opportunities for fan engagement through regional and international BL fan meets that we have in plan for ‘First Note of Love,’" he said.
The first episode of “First Note of Love” will be available to stream globally on GagaOOLala (excluding Japan) along with Video Market and Rakuten TV in Japan, LINE TV and friDAY in Taiwan, Heavenly in South Korea and Rakuten VIKI in multiple territories on Aug. 12 with a new episode every week.
The first episode of the series will be made available for free on GagaOOLala with English, Mandarin, Thai, Spanish and Bahasa subtitles.
"First Note of Love" (GagaOOLala)