Respected Hong Kong-based exec Kenney Shiu has joined Kobalt Music Group, solid sources are telling MBW.
What Shiu’s appointment might mean for Kobalt’s ambitions in Greater China are currently unclear, but it would appear to indicate that the rights company is ramping up its plans in the region.
Shiu (pictured inset) joined BMG China as Director of Finance & A&R in March this year. The exec was previously Managing Director of Peermusic’s Hong Kong operation.
Prior to peer, Shiu was part of the finance team at Rock Music Publishing (HK) Ltd, before spending four years as Accounting Manager at Warner Music Hong Kong.
He moved to peermusic in 2006 as General Manager of Asia Pacific.
Meanwhile, with or without Shiu, BMG‘s expansion in China continues apace.
The firm announced an exclusive partnership with retail giant Alibaba in the region earlier this year – which is predicted would put China into its Top 10 revenue-generating markets.
And last week we learnt that BMG had acquired two significant publishing catalogues in the region.
China is fast becoming the emerging territory to watch in 2016, following the implementation of more stringent anti-piracy laws this year.
Sony, Warner and, most recently, Believe Digital, have signed exclusive distribution deals with another Chinese giant, Tencent, which owns QQ Music.
And earlier this morning we learnt that Baidu Music has merged with a record company which controls over 700,000 recordings copyrights.Music Business Worldwide
