Photo Credit: NetEase
NetEase Cloud Music and Sony Music Entertainment have entered into a direct digital distribution relationship.
Under the agreement, NetEase Cloud Music will make music from SME available to its users in China. The companies will also work together to explore innovative collaboration opportunities across the music value chain to bring “elevated music experiences to NetEase Cloud Music’s large community of young music lovers in China.
“This includes in-depth cooperation in areas such as music distribution, music streaming services, online karaoke, and music vlogs, among others,” the press release reads.
Sony Music is further expanding the reach of its catalog in China by working with NetEase.
Through the partnership, NetEase will grow the range of its artists in China, including artists like G.E.M., Karen Mok, Jolin Tsai, A-Lin, Nana-Ouyang, Sophia Huang, Eric Chou, and Evan Lin.
“We are pleased to be partnering with NetEase Cloud Music to further grow the availability of our music in China and increase the level of global investment in our roster of world-class artists. China is one of the most dynamic music markets in the world, and we look forward to working with NetEase Cloud Music to develop innovative approaches for our tremendous creative talent to connect with fans locally,” Dennis Kooker, President of Global Digital Business and US Sales at Sony Music Entertainment says.
NetEase Cloud Music launched in 2013 as a leading music streaming service in China. It is dedicated to providing a unique user experience with personalized recommendations and a strong social community surrounding the app.
“With access to SME’s abundant catalog of top artists across the globe, we’re thrilled to provide more unique and influential music content for our audience’s diverse tastes. The partnership will enrich and enliven our already vast and expanding library of quality music and propel China’s online music ecosystem forward,” says Ding Bo, Vice President of NetEase Cloud Music.
“As leading companies in the music and entertainment industry, SME and NetEase are committed to providing music lovers with the ultimate audio experience, and we look forward to working together with SME to explore more opportunities that benefit our vibrant community of music lovers,” Ding says.
NetEase focuses on discovering and promoting emerging musicians inside China, making it a premier destination for new indie artists. It serves a similar role as Bandcamp and TikTok combined into one service. It is one of the most popular apps among China’s Gen Z community.