On November 12, NetEase Cloud Music, a music streaming service provider in China, and Sony Music Entertainment, a global record company, announced a strategic multi-year licensing agreement. The renewed partnership builds on a long-standing relationship in the digital music industry.
What the agreement covers#
The companies said the partnership will draw on Sony Music’s global catalog, NetEase Cloud Music’s digital music services and its community ecosystem in China. The agreement is intended to keep delivering licensed music to fans across the country.
It also expands collaboration on music content, artist promotion and cultural exchange.
Sony Music’s artist roster#
Sony Music’s recorded music business spans pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop and country. The companies named the following artists from its international catalog, among many others:
- Beyoncé
- Michael Jackson
- Harry Styles
- P!nk
- Céline Dion
- Mariah Carey
- Doja Cat
- Whitney Houston
- Shakira
- Travis Scott
Its Chinese-language roster includes established artists and emerging talents, among them Jam Hsiao, A-Lin, Curley G, Steve Chou, Gigi Yim and Lars Huang. The label also represents SKAI ISYOURGOD, a rapper described as one of the most prominent names in China’s contemporary Chinese-language rap scene.
Sony Music also has artists in Japan and South Korea. Its Japanese catalog includes Mika Nakashima, Hikaru Utada and Kenshi Yonezu, and its K-pop roster includes JENNIE and LISA.
Executive comments#
William Ding, chief executive officer of NetEase Cloud Music, said: “Sony Music Entertainment is a highly valued strategic partner of NetEase Cloud Music. This new partnership will further enrich our platform’s global catalog of licensed music and provide users with access to a diverse range of high-quality music from outstanding artists. We look forward to working with Sony Music Entertainment to leverage our respective strengths in artist promotion and content co-creation, foster deeper connections between Chinese listeners and music artists, and contribute to the continued development of China’s digital music market.”
Vivian Wei, Vice President of Copyrights at NetEase Cloud Music, said: “We are delighted to further strengthen our strategic partnership with Sony Music Entertainment. NetEase Cloud Music has always been committed to providing users with high-quality and diverse music content, while leveraging our distinctive music community ecosystem to connect outstanding music with listeners. Sony Music Entertainment boasts an extensive global music catalog and an exceptional roster of artists. We look forward to building on this partnership to further expand the possibilities of digital music services, helping more international music be discovered and enjoyed by music fans in China, while creating more opportunities for artists to connect and engage with their audiences.”
Andrew Chan, chief executive of Sony Music Entertainment Greater China, said: “China is a vibrant and indispensable part of the global music ecosystem. We are delighted to deepen our long-standing strategic partnership with NetEase Cloud Music. Its distinctive music community and deep insight into young Chinese audiences create a special space for artists and fans. We look forward to bringing our rich catalog and world-class artists to more Chinese listeners, exploring innovative ways of engagement, and building stronger cultural connections through music.”
About the companies#
NetEase Cloud Music, listed as Cloud Music Inc. on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) under ticker 9899, describes itself as one of the leading online music platforms in China. The company says it has more than 200 million monthly active users and an interactive content community for music enthusiasts.
The company also says it hosts more than 1.25 million independent musicians. Its tools let users discover, enjoy, share and create music and music-inspired content, and interact with one another.
Sony Music Entertainment is a global record label whose labels include RCA Records, Columbia Records and Epic Records. The companies say Sony Music Group brings global pop music to the Chinese market, promotes Chinese-language music internationally, and discovers and develops original artists and works across mainland China.
