bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Yujie Xue

Iris Deng

Tencent Holdings has been ordered to end its exclusive music licensing deals with global record labels within 30 days and has been fined 500,000 yuan (US$77,143) by China’s antitrust authorities, as the country’s most valuable technology company comes under scrutiny for its dominance in the country’s online music-streaming business.
The music arm of the Shenzhen-based company must relinquish its exclusive music rights within the next 30 days, as well as its high prepayments and other copyright fees for music content, according to a statement by the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR), the country’s antitrust watchdog agency, on Saturday.
“[This case] shows that when a merger deal has been completed and cannot be separated, the Chinese authorities can still intervene to restore the market to a status of relatively fair competition,” said You Yunting, senior partner at Shanghai Debund Law Firm Offices.
This is the first ruling from China’s antitrust regulator that addresses anticompetitive effects from a merger deal, setting a possible precedent for Beijing to mandate changes to business models and operations of merged business.
Tencent will still be able to retain its exclusive deals with independent artists, which should expire in three years, as well as partnerships on new releases.

In addition, without prior approval, Tencent must not require copyright owners to give it better treatment than competitors nor apply any other measures that could help Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) restore its market-leading position, according to the regulator.
Tencent issued a statement saying that it will faithfully implement the regulator’s order.
Tencent’s penalty came as the regulator dusted off an investigation into Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) and its dealings with the world’s three largest record labels. The investigation started in January 2019, but was suspended in February 2020 for undisclosed reasons.
In January of this year, the SAMR officially looked into Tencent’s acquisition of China Music Corporation in 2016 that formed TME and gave encent exclusive rights to 80 per cent of all music tracks in the market, according to the regulator.
Tencent’s shares, the second-largest on Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, were down by as much as 2.39 per cent to HK$531.00 when the market closed on Friday before the fine was announced. The stock has fallen by 30 per cent since its January 25 record high of HK$766.50.

TME was spun off for a 2018 listing in New York and is China’s biggest music streaming player with more than 622 million monthly active users (MAUs) from three streaming apps QQ Music, Kugou and Kuwo. Combined, the platforms had a library of 66 million licensed tracks by the end of 2020, according to the company.
TME’s closest rival is NetEase Cloud Music, which had 181 million MAUs and 60 million tracks as of December 2020, according to the prospectus of Cloud Village, operator of the app.
TME has kept its edge in an expensive music library through partnerships with the world’s biggest music companies. Universal Music, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group have all sold exclusive rights to their catalogues to Tencent Music, which can then be sub-licensed to other music streaming rivals through Tencent.
Competing platforms like NetEase have to “pay two to three times the reasonable cost” for content under such arrangements, NetEase chief executive William Ding Lei said on an earnings conference call last year.

In 2017 the Chinese copyright watchdog summoned music platform operators including Tencent and NetEase and criticised price-gouging in relation to licence fees and the fight for exclusive deals. When Tencent’s exclusive deal with Universal Music expired in 2020, the record label – in which a Tencent-led consortium owned 20 per cent – struck a deal with NetEase for the first time to licence content to the Tencent rival.
NetEase said in a statement on Saturday that it resolutely supports SAMR’s penalty on Tencent.
China’s antitrust crackdown, which has ensnared Alibaba, on-demand services provider Meituan and now Tencent, is expanding to other internet market segments to protect consumer interests and avert wider economic risks in the country’s fast-digitalising economy.
For the dozens of merger deals brought under regulatory scrutiny since last December, SAMR has limited punishments to the maximum fine of 500,000 yuan.

 
Earlier this month, SAMR issued 22 fines of half a million yuan each to the country’s Big Tech firms for a series of irregularities related to merger deals over the past decade, including some before the market regulator was formed in 2018.
The regulator said at the time that the fines were for not flagging “concentration operation” risks to the authority for review and made clear that the deals did not exclude or limit market competition, meaning that they did not need to be unwound.
Tencent founder Pony Ma Huateng has recently played up the company’s philanthropic efforts, earmarking 50 billion yuan to create a business division dedicated to doing good, the company announced in April.
Ma said during a conference call in March that Tencent was cooperating with regulators on compliance issues, including “reviewing some conditions in our past investments”, but he did not mention any further specifics after it was reported he had met with SAMR voluntarily.


China antitrust: Beijing orders Tencent to end exclusive music licensing deals in a first for the country

Interior view of the corporate headquarters of Tencent Holdings in Shenzhen. Photo: Imaginechina via AFP

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tencent Holdings, Pony Ma Huateng, attends Tencent Holdings Limited 2017 Fourth Quarter and Annual Results in Admiralty. 21MAR18 SCMP / Winson Wong

graphic for online tencent music (TME) has the most users... maus in millions as of dec 2020 245.56 194.22 169.59 151.59 26.73 kugou music qq music kuwo music netease cloud music migu music source: questmobile scmp

This photo taken on May 26, 2021 shows the Tencent headquarters in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, in Guangdong province. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP)

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The music arm of the Shenzhen-based company must relinquish its exclusive music rights within the next 30 days
Tencent will be able to retain its exclusive deals with independent artists


China’s most valuable technology company comes under scrutiny for its dominance in the country’s online music-streaming business.


Tencent Holdings

Regulation

E-commerce

Ma Huateng

China antitrust: Beijing orders Tencent to end exclusive music licensing deals in a first for the country

The music arm of the Shenzhen-based company must relinquish its exclusive music rights within the next 30 days Tencent will be able to retain its exclusive deals with independent artists

The music arm of the Shenzhen-based company must relinquish its exclusive music rights within the next 30 days

Tencent will be able to retain its exclusive deals with independent artists