China's online music streaming market has been growing rapidly in recent years. With over 1 billion daily users, it is no surprise that the country has become a significant player in the global music industry. In this article, we will explore the current state of the Chinese online music streaming market, focusing on its top players and revenue models.

Portal-Type Mobile App Services

According to iResearch (2016), 70% of Chinese users listen to music on their mobile devices, while only 23.7% use PC-based services. Moreover, 38.2% of smartphone users have downloaded two or more music streaming apps, with an average daily usage time of 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Top Online Music Streaming Services

The Chinese online music streaming market has undergone significant changes in recent years, with portal-type mobile app services emerging as the dominant players. The top five online music streaming services in China are:

1. Kugou () – a popular music streaming service that boasts over 20 million songs and is known for its high-quality sound.
2. QQ Music (QQ音乐) – a music streaming service operated by Tencent, which has over 15 million songs and is the second-largest player in the market.

Revenue Models

While online music streaming services in China are free to use, they have developed innovative revenue models to generate income. The three main revenue streams are:

1. HQ High-Quality Audio Service: Users can upgrade to a high-quality audio service for a monthly fee of ¥45 (approximately ₩7,300).
2. Communication Carrier Partnerships: Online music streaming services partner with communication carriers to offer exclusive data packages at discounted rates.
3. Brand Partnerships and PPL Advertising: Brands such as Huawei (华为), Vivo (维沃), and Oppo () have partnered with online music streaming services to create exclusive content and advertising opportunities.

Key Takeaways

1. The Chinese online music streaming market is dominated by portal-type mobile app services.
2. Kugou and QQ Music are the top two players in the market, each offering a unique user experience.
3. Revenue models such as HQ High-Quality Audio Service, Communication Carrier Partnerships, and Brand Partnerships have been successful in generating income for online music streaming services., China's online music streaming market has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by the rise of portal-type mobile app services and innovative revenue models. As the market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these top players adapt and innovate to stay ahead of the competition.