Bytedance snags former Tencent Music executive
Dec 30, 2019
Bytedance has recently hired a former Tencent Music executive to lead music-related operations for its short video app Douyin, replacing a director of the platform that left in July, media outlet LatePost reported.
Why it matters: Bytedance has been keen to supply original music for short video apps Douyin and TikTok. The company’s deals with major record labels expired in April.
- Record labels such as Universal Music and Sony Music are demanding higher royalties from Bytedance.
- In 2018, Douyin rolled out an incentive and support program for independent musicians in China.
Details: Deng Linhai was an operations director at Tencent Music Entertainment (TME). He will lead Douyin’s music business alongside Mou Fei, product manager for the platform’s music business.
- Prior to joining Bytedance, Deng used to be responsible for providing support for and managing independent musicians for TME.
- Deng will replace take over from Zhu Jie. Zhu, former director of Douyin’s music business, left the company in July along with music production manager Song Yubin.
Context: In addition to getting more musicians under its belt, Bytedance has also been making moves in the music streaming market.
- In October, the company launched a domestic online music platform named “Yinyuebang.” The platform contained 26 songs popular created by artists in Douyin’s independent artist support program.
- Earlier this month, Bytedance started testing a music streaming app named Resso in India and Indonesia. The platform charges users a monthly subscription of $1.7 in India, equal to what Spotify charges in the country.