20:23 PDT 3/22/2021
in
Patrick Brzeski
A dominant actor in digital music in China, Tencent has been licensing songs from Warner Music for more than a decade.
Warner Music and Tencent Music Entertainment Group said on Tuesday that they had expanded their long-standing licensing relationship, while signing a partnership on a new joint venture label aimed at the China market.
A dominant player in digital music in China, Tencent Music has licensed songs from Warner Music for more than a decade. Under the expanded agreement, Warner Music’s repertoire will be made available on all Tencent online music platforms in mainland China, which includes on-demand streaming channels QQ Music, Kugou Music and Kuwo Music; the WeSing online karaoke platform, various live streaming platforms and other connected devices, such as automotive audio systems.
Details on the joint venture’s label were sparse, but the two partners said it would leverage “Warner Music’s global resources and experience in supporting artist careers, as well as Tencent Music’s enormous influence in the music and entertainment market. of mainland China. “
Tencent bought a 20 percent stake in Universal Music Group at the end of last year, but the Chinese company’s close relations with the other major labels have not been harmed by this deal. The financial terms of the Warner Music contract were not disclosed.
Said Simon Robson, international president of Warner Recorded Music: “Our collaboration with Tencent Music has already yielded tremendous results for local and international artists, and now we are opening up even more opportunities together. Along with our greater investment in artist and repertoire and marketing in Grande China, this renewed and expanded partnership means that we can help make our artists impossible to ignore in one of the fastest expanding music markets in the world. “
Cussion Pang, CEO of Tencent Music added: “We share the same passion and vision, collaborating closely in copyright protection and empowering and protecting artists and their work, while revealing the intrinsic value of music. This cooperation will be a new industry benchmark for diversified development and value creation in China’s music industry. “