Global streamer GagaOOLala premieres its first Taiwanese-Thai musical BL series, “First Note of Love”, on Monday (12 August), expanding the LGBTQ+ platform’s genre footprint and inking a new collaboration model in deals with Warner Music in Taiwan and Thailand.

The first episode of the 12x25-mins romantic drama about an unsociable music prodigy and a down-and-out singer will stream globally (excluding Japan) on GagaOOLala on Monday, as well as on Video Market and Rakuten TV in Japan, LINE TV and friDAY in Taiwan, Heavenly in South Korea and Rakuten VIKI in multiple territories.

New episodes will debut weekly.  

The first episode of the series will be made available for free on GagaOOLala with English, Mandarin, Thai, Spanish and Bahasa subtitles.

The series was described at a media event in Taipei today as “an ambitious effort to foster strategic synergies among the three major Asian BL hubs of Taiwan, Thailand and Japan”.

Jay Lin, founder/CEO of GagaOOLala and Portico Media, highlighted the potential of BL being a collaborative nexus between these key production hubs.

Artistic, musical and financial backing for “First Note of Love” came from Taiwan and Thailand, along with the Kaohsiung Film Fund, Video Market and Rakuten TV Japan and the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA).

The production also received subsidy support from the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development of the Taiwanese Ministry of Culture.

“First Note of Love” marks the BL debut of Taiwanese director Chien Hung Lin (“Salli”).

Taiwanese BL heartthrob Charles Tu (“HIStory4: Close to You”) stars in the series as Neil, the frontman of the band Magnet, who withdraws from the spotlight when his brother and bandmate dies tragically.

Michael Chang (“My Tooth Your Love”) plays Sea, a devastated fan.

Star Hunter Entertainment Thailand’s rising BL protégé, Kasama “Jame” Kranjanawattana (“Gen Y”), stars as Orca, an indie Thai musician, with Taiwanese actor, Tim Liu (“Guardian”) in his BL debut playing Neil’s agent, Reese.

GagaOOLala said the series “goes beyond conventional BL themes” by placing music at the core of the story.

The platform described the original as “a heartwarming and inspiring story where music becomes the universal language of love, healing, and eventually, the courage to face one’s biggest fears”.

Warner Music Taiwan produced a tailor-made original soundtrack album featuring songs performed by Warner Music Taiwan and Warner Music Thailand, as well as lead actor Charles Tu.