Tencent-owned music streaming platform JOOX has inked a licensing agreement with Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the world’s independent label sector.
The agreement licenses Merlin content via JOOX’s ad-supported and premium tiers, as well as its karaoke feature and library in Asia including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, as well as South Africa.
JOOX claims to be the largest music streaming platform in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar.
The platform attracts advertising from major consumer brands such as Coca-Cola, P&G, Unilever, and regional brands such as e-commerce platform Shopee and Southeast Asian “super app” Grab.
Merlin says that the deal will also facilitate its members’ access to marketing and promotional activities on the JOOX service.
Today’s news follows last month’s deal signed by Merlin with China-based music streaming service NetEase Cloud Music, and the renewal of Merlin’s multi-year licensing deal with NetEase rival Tencent Music Entertainment in November 2020.
Merlin now has deals with over 30 digital services, including Apple, AWA, Boomplay, Deezer, Facebook/Instagram, JioSaavn, KKBox, Pandora, Snap, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tencent, TikTok, Triller, Yandex, and YouTube Music, and says that it “is in conversations with dozens more”.
Merlin also says that 81 new members joined from countries in 2020, including first-time members from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Peru, Singapore, Slovakia, and the United Arab Emirates.
“We are thrilled about our strategic collaboration with Merlin as it reinforces this goal by unlocking abundant content from hundreds of thousands of artists via Merlin’s membership for our users.”
Poshu Yeung, JOOX
Poshu Yeung, Senior Vice President of JOOX, said: “JOOX always strives to bring users a wide range of music entertainment content from around the globe in different languages and genres, catering to music lovers’ various tastes.
“We are thrilled about our strategic collaboration with Merlin as it reinforces this goal by unlocking abundant content from hundreds of thousands of artists via Merlin’s membership for our users.”
“Our agreement with JOOX is one that expands access for our members across new markets while also driving value back to JOOX.”
Jeremy Sirota, Merlin
Jeremy Sirota, Merlin CEO, said: “In every deal we strike, Merlin strives for the absolute best — not only for our members, but for each of our digital partners.
“Our agreement with JOOX is one that expands access for our members across new markets while also driving value back to JOOX.
“We’re truly pleased to explore new ideas and features with them in order to help Merlin members make the most of this exciting music platform.”
Music Business Worldwide