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Business News Deals
Imagem allies with Chinese distributor, as new online content rules loom in China
By Chris Cooke | Published on Tuesday 1 March 2016
Independent music publisher Imagem has signed a deal with Chinese digital distribution firm R2G, which will see the distributor handle the licensing of the publisher’s repertoire in the Chinese market. Imagem is the latest music firm to ally with a Chinese partner in a bid to access royalties now being paid by various digital music set-ups in the country.
Confirming the deal, Imagem Group CEO Andre de Raaff told reporters: “We are excited to tap into R2G’s wealth of experience and expertise in the publishing licensing area in China and grow with the market as better licensing conditions prevail, very important for all the writers and publishers we represent”.
R2G President Mathew Daniel, meanwhile, added that: “Imagem has one of the most impressive music publishing catalogues in the world and we are delighted to be working with them as the music publishing market matures in China with music services starting to license publishing works”.
The deal comes ahead of new regulations in China that will mean that only licensed companies are allowed to publish content online in the country, and only Chinese companies will qualify for such a licence.
For music rights owners, which generally work with local partners anyway, the new regulation is not so worrying, though such partnerships may have to be approved by Chinese regulators moving forward.
Meanwhile the measures, announced by the government department overseeing internet policy last month and seemingly due to go live later this month, have been widely criticised by the global media industry, and could impact on international streaming services operating, or looking to operate, in China.
