Advertisement

Tencent Music streams Beatles albums on path to IPO

Tencent Music last year signed a distribution and licensing agreement with Universal Music, including to build Abbey Road Studios China, inspired by the famous Beatles recording studio in London

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
In this Oct. 26, 1965 file photo, The Beatles, from left: Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, smile as they display the Member of The Order of The British Empire medals presented to them by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony in Buckingham Palace in London, England. Photo: AP
Celia Chenin Shenzhen

The Beatles have made their streaming debut on Tencent Music in China.

Users of Tencent Music and three of its platforms, QQ Music, KuGou and Kuwo, are able to listen to selected songs from 28 Beatles albums for free, with others available with a subscription. The service was available since March 22 and a check showed songs like My BonnieGet on the Right Track Baby can be streamed for free. 

E-flyer for the Beatles launch on Tencent Music.
E-flyer for the Beatles launch on Tencent Music.

Tencent Music will also launch five documentaries about the London group spread over five weeks as a tribute, according to Chinanews.com. A representative for Tencent did not return a phone call or reply to an emailed request for comment. 
Tencent Music, which is widely expected to be spun off into an initial public offering, and its platforms vie for listeners with other streaming services including Netease Music, Alibaba Group’s Xiami Music and Baidu Music.

China’s tech giants are engaged in intense competition to acquire and create content, whether music, movies, TV dramas or games, to attract and retain users across their various platforms. By increasing the time users spend on social media, playing online games or listening to music, tech companies can sell more advertising or cross-sell products and services.

Last year, Tencent signed a licensing agreement with Universal Music Group (UMG) that was seen to significantly expand the company’s digital music distribution business in China.

Advertisement