China-based music streaming giant NetEase Cloud Music has renewed its existing partnership with Taiwan-based independent record label Rock Records to distribute the latter company’s music catalog in China.
The new alliance will see the companies continuing their agreement to jointly promote Rock Records’ artists and content in the Chinese market including the label’s back catalog and upcoming releases, according to a press release on Thursday (March 30).
Cloud Music will secure the rights to sublicense Rock Records’ music for use in multiple scenarios, such as in third-party applications, website background music and smart devices.
The two companies say that they will also continue exploring more in-depth initiatives on copyright cooperation, as well as artist promotion and the distribution of other content.
Rock Records, established in 1980 by Tuan Chung-tan and Tuan Chung-i, is home to Mandopop artists like Tayu Lo, Jonathan Lee, Wakin Chau, Chenyue Chang, MC HOTDOG, Rene Liu, MayDay, Fish Leong, Karen Mok, Yuki Hsu, Cheer Chen and Gary Chaw.
The label has expanded its artist portfolio in recent years to include new acts like Shi Shi, Nine Chen, Men Envy Children, Howard Lee and Darcy.
The company’s existing partnership with Cloud Music saw the launch of special music episodes on the streaming platform during Rock Records’ 40th anniversary last year.
“Moving forward, NetEase Cloud Music will forge ahead with top-notch music copyright holders and continue to provide more high-quality music content to music lovers in China.”
Netease Cloud Music
The music episodes, titled Rock 40 and Bands,’ invited 40 indie bands including Sunset Rollercoaster, Second Hand Rose, Deca Joins and The Last Day of Summer 831 to play their unique renditions of classic hits by Rock Records.
Cloud Music says the partnership is one of its efforts to “enrich” the content offerings on its streaming platform.
Cloud Music most recently said it has extended its music copyright cooperation with a number of top record labels, including Modern Sky, Emperor Entertainment Group, China Record Group, Feng Hua Qiu Shi, Yuehua Entertainment, Linfair Records, SM Entertainment, TF Entertainment, YG Entertainment, KAO!INC, Avex, Pony Canyon and B’in Music.
“Moving forward, NetEase Cloud Music will forge ahead with top-notch music copyright holders and continue to provide more high-quality music content to music lovers in China,” the company said.
The deal comes as the company faces increasing competition from rival Tencent Music Entertainment, which operates its flagship music app QQ Music, as well as Kugou, Kuwo, and online karaoke service, WeSing.
TME also operates an indie artist platform called Tencent Musician Platform, which had about 350,000 registered musicians by the end of the third quarter of 2022.
In contrast, Cloud Music had over 450,000 artists signed up to its independent artist program.
By the end of 2022, Cloud Music had 189.4 million monthly active users across its online music services, up from 182.6 million from the end of 2021.
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