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BMG and Nokia MixRadio set China in their sights
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 27 March 2014
In many ways, China remains one of the big untapped markets for Western music companies, partly because it’s not the easiest place to properly get your tapping tool a-tapping. But BMG reckons it knows where to tap its tools. Basically, what I’m saying here is that BMG is expanding into China.
Thomas Rabe, CEO of BMG’s parent company Bertelsmann, reckons it’s happening and it’s going to be a huge success. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he said at the company’s annual press conference: “There is a new awareness with regard to copyright issues in China and there are new and emerging formats [which can generate revenue]. In short, you can make money in China with music”.
Exactly how he wasn’t clear on, but apparently a team is ready to go and do just that. So that’s fun.
Meanwhile, earlier this week Nokia’s curated streaming radio service MixRadio announced that it is also launching in China, though exact details of that development are also a little sketchy.
Like Nokia’s previous attempt at a music service, unlimited download offering ComesWithMusic, MixRadio is pre-loaded on the phone firm’s phones. However, unlike ComesWithMusic, it is generally talked about in positive terms (helped by it being powered by The Echo Nest).
Nokia did previously have some success with CWM in China, launching it without DRM in 2010, and keeping it operational for a time after it had been closed in most other territories.
A press conference to explain Nokia MixRadio’s plans for China in full is scheduled for later today.
