Taipei, China – August 9: Members of South Korean girl group aespa perform on stage at the (+) aespa live tour – Synk:Parallel Line held in Taipei, Taiwan, China on August 9, 2024. Masu. (Photo courtesy of VCG/VCG, Getty Images)
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Kakao Entertainment, one of the most prominent companies in the K-Pop industry, is taking an important step to expand its global influence by partnering with China’s NetEase Cloud Music. The partnership is seen as a strategic move to expand K-Pop’s presence in China and marks a milestone in the evolving but historically tense relationship between the two countries’ entertainment industries.
The agreement, announced on October 24, 2024, will enable Kakao Entertainment to distribute a wide range of K-Pop songs to listeners in China through NetEase Cloud Music, one of China’s largest music streaming platforms. Currently, Kakao Entertainment has chart-topping artists such as IU and STAYC, as well as labels such as Starship Entertainment (which includes artists such as Monsta X, IVE, and CRAVITY) and IST Entertainment (which includes Apink, The Boyz, and VICTON). I am a member and am active. We have been a distributor for many labels over the years and currently own the distribution rights to some of the music of many internationally beloved artists. Last year, Kakao also officially acquired iconic agency SM Entertainment, which has influenced the K-pop scene for nearly 30 years through generation-defining artists such as BoA, TVXQ!, Girls’ Generation, NCT, and aespa. and achieved a major coup.
The partnership covers simultaneous song releases in both South Korea and China. This includes promotional campaigns aimed at growing the K-pop fan base in the country, which IFPI ranks as the world’s fifth largest music industry, which grew by 25.9% last year. Historically, K-Pop companies and groups have hired China-based artists and recorded music in Chinese to improve their chances of breaking into the market. Starship Entertainment’s girl group WJSN was created to feature Korean and Chinese members in partnership with a China-based label, including EXO, GOT7, SEVENTEEN, (G)I-DLE, NCT, EVERGLOW, Top groups such as Loossemble have recruited stars from China. Kakao’s SM Entertainment even has its own Chinese boy band on WayV.
The collaboration reflects the cooling of relations between South Korea and China over pop culture after years of tension. In the past, cultural exchanges have been frozen due to political issues, with K-pop artists largely excluded from major Chinese platforms, tours and domestic opportunities due to unofficial bans. However, given China’s huge population, this new agreement is an important development that shows that K-pop is being welcomed back into the Chinese market and its influence is growing on the global music stage. suggests.
The two music giants began their collaboration in early 2024, and the successful corporate cooperation has now evolved into a long-term strategic partnership. With this agreement, NetEase Cloud Music becomes the fastest platform in China to upload Kakao Entertainment’s newly released K-POP tracks. This will not only accelerate the influx of Korean into China, but also increase the platform’s appeal to Chinese K-pop fans, especially digitally-focused Millennials and Gen Z.
NetEase Cloud Music is recognized for its unique and highly personalized music recommendation system, which resonates with a young user base. By integrating Kakao’s diverse catalog of K-Pop music (including distribution of past releases from globally-loved artists such as SEVENTEEN, (G)I-DLE, and Jessi) with a cutting-edge platform, both companies wants to enhance your K-POP music listening experience. Chinese fans will become more familiar with their favorite Korean artists and songs despite existing barriers.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – AUGUST 29: This photo illustration shows the NetEase Cloud Music app on a smartphone in an arrangement photo taken on August 29, 2021 in Shanghai, China… (+). (Photo provided by Fan Jianlei/JIEMIAN NEWS/VCG, Getty Images)
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Kakao Entertainment's decision to deepen its ties with China through this partnership is consistent with the company’s broader global strategy seen since acquiring SM last year. The company is actively working to build a strong international distribution network with an eye on markets in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. The partnership with NetEase Cloud Music strengthens Kakao Entertainment's foothold in Greater China and opens the door for further expansion in the region.
Kakao Entertainment brings China “closer to K-POP”
“We are excited to steadily introduce Kakao Entertainment’s wide range of K-POP assets to Chinese fans,” NetEase Cloud Music said in a press release. “Through comprehensive cooperation with new partners, we will help users enjoy even richer K-POP songs.”
Kakao Entertainment reiterated the importance of this collaboration in its own statement. “Our partnership with NetEase Cloud Music will allow fans in China to communicate and feel closer to K-pop and its artists through more diverse content,” the company said. “We will leverage our collaborations with international partners to strengthen the competitiveness of our global distribution channels and lead the expansion of K-POP’s global network.”
This partnership comes as K-Pop’s global presence is stronger than ever, with China’s vast market a key frontier for continued growth. Despite political tensions that previously limited cultural exchanges between China and South Korea, the new deal suggests that the door to the lucrative Chinese market may be opening again for K-pop. are. As Kakao Entertainment and NetEase Cloud Music’s partnership develops, this will serve as a blueprint for future collaborations between the Korean company and the Chinese platform, further strengthening K-POP’s role as a dominant force in the global music industry. There is a possibility that
