Universal Music Group just supercharged Taylor Swift's reach into China with a blockbuster licensing deal alongside NetEase Cloud Music, announced January 19, 2026.
This multi-year pact beams UMG's star-studded catalog including Swift's chart-toppers to NetEase's 206 million monthly active users, many craving global tunes amid China's booming music streaming market.
The 10th Music Industry Forum, held on June 6 in Beijing, unveiled the 2025 China Music Industry Development Annual Report, which highlighted significant progress in China's music industry. According to the report, China's music industry is expected to reach ¥492.9 billion (US$68.59 billion) in 2024, representing a 4.97% increase from the previous year.
The multi-year license agreement allows UMG-signed artists like Taylor Swift to stream on NetEase's platform. The deal includes provisions and terms covering artificial intelligence both companies said reflect a statement announcing the deal.
shared commitment to responsible AI practices that support and protect the music and artists that UMG represents.
Deal Revives Old Partnership
Echoing their 2020 agreement, this renewal packs fresh muscle with marketing collaborations and premium features to hook fans. NetEase, with over 50 million paying subscribers, grabs a bigger slice of the pie where rival Tencent dominates more with 125 million paying subscribers.
UMG eyes deeper penetration after China joined its top 10 subscription revenue markets, fueled by double-digit growth.
AI Guardrails and Bright Growth Ahead
Smartly, the deal embeds "responsible AI practices" to shield artists from Deepfake risks, a hot topic as UMG's Q3 2025 revenue hit €3.02 billion, up 10.2% year-over-year.
According to Deep Market Insights, the China Music Streaming Market will be worth $4530.08 million by 2033, up from USD 1762.57 million in 2024. From 2026 to 2033, the Chinese market is expected to grow at a consistent CAGR of 11.07%.
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