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Music Markets • 4 min read

Local Music Companies Knowledge Base: Mainland China

By Dmitry Pastukhov

Published March 6, 2022

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Following our extensive analysis of the local market — the two-part series on the music industry in China can be found here — we want to share with you the last piece of local insight.

Here’s the list of local companies, shaping China’s music business. We’ve tried to tailor it to international music professionals, looking into the opportunities of the Chinese market. However, there were some domestic-focused companies that we couldn’t leave out.

We based this list on our own research as well as the local insight of the industry insiders. However, it’s still non-exhaustive — so if you think that we’re missing something, let us know at contact@soundcharts.com.

Key Players on the Chinese Music Market

Modern Sky

Type: Record Label

Founded in Beijing in 1997, Modern Sky is now the largest independent record label music in Mainland China. Launched as a small indie-rock record label and music magazine publisher, Modern Sky has evolved into a massive entertainment conglomerate, with a network of performance venues and festival brands across China, subsidiaries in the UK and the U.S., and even its own hotel. Today, Modern Sky spread into recording, artist management, concert tour promotion, publishing, distribution and more. It also organizes the largest festivals under the banner of Strawberry Festival, stretching across more than 15 locations in China as well as overseas. Essentially, Modern Sky is a major label with an indie feel on a market where the major’s presence is weak in comparison to the western world.

Split Works

Type: Promoter

Split Works is probably the most prominent independent music & festival promoter in China with a focus on international music. A subsidiary of Split United, Split Works is the team behind the Concrete & Grass Music Festival in Shanghai, featuring top-tier Chinese and international artists each year. Yet, that’s just one side of the company’s business. From Diplo and Thirty Seconds to Mars and Sonic Youth; to Grimes, Perfume Genius and Mount Kimble — Split Works is responsible for introducing some of the top-tier global artists as well as prominent niche acts to the local market.

Strawberry Festival

Type: Music Festival

Created in 2007 by the Modern Sky record label in Beijing under the name Modern Sky Festival, the Strawberry Festival the leading music events in China. Strawberry Music Festival is a “touring event”, bringing a rotating selection of local and international artists to several locations each year. Sometimes referred to as Coachella of China, Strawberry Music has become one of the leading music tastemakers of the Chinese youth. In 2019, it will include six separate events — and that’s not the record for the fest. Following the local success, the festival has also started an international expansion, bringing its installments to New York, Helsinki and Seattle


Outdustry

Type: Music Services & Consulting

Outdustry is one of the leading music services companies, focusing on emerging music markets. With a total of five offices — in London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Shanghai and Taipei — Outdustry became one of the staples, connecting India and China with the global music community, offering full circle services, from publishing to marketing, brand relationships and A&R. From administering Merlin’s licensing deals with the Chinese streaming services to developing local marketing campaigns for Universal, Warner, Sony, mtheory and Beggars, representing Major Lazor, Charlie XCX, Radiohead and Adele — the Outdustry’s service record is as impressive as it gets.


Kanjian Music

Type: Distributor


Founded in 2012, Shanghai-based Kanjian Music is a music marketing company, offering solutions on music promotion, synch and distribution in China. With the biggest Chinese artists like Jane Zhang and Jackson Wang, as well as the prominent international artists like Nightwish under its belt, Kanjian might as well be the only local digital distributor, working with international artists on a one-by-one basis. Synch, licensing and digital distribution seems to be the company’s shtick — yet, they also offer marketing services, from the local social media management to PR and beyond.  

Groove Dynasty

Type: Music Marketing Services

Shanghai-based Groove Dynasty is one of the leading local marketing services companies in the world of electronic dance music. Building on the recent rise of EDM in China, Groove Dynasty is working on developing and implementing the local promotion strategies, for some of the biggest names in the genre, from Hardwell to DJ Snake.  

Notable Music Companies (In Alphabetical Order)

1. Record Labels & Music Services Companies

2. Event Promoters & Booking Agencies

3. Music Festivals

4. Streaming Services and DSPs

5. Online Music Media & Digital Platforms

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Dmitry Pastukhov

Content creator for Soundcharts. Deciphering the music business so you don't have to.

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