Communication University of China（CUC） released 2017 China Music Industry Development Report at the Fourth Music Industry Forum 2017. As revealed by the Report, the total size of China Music Industry in 2016 was 325.322 billion yuan, up 7.79% from 2015. Core businesses including digital music, music copyright brokerage, performance, music books and audiovisual product shit 70 billion yuan. "China has become a music industry power and in the process of becoming a powerhouse," said Xu Wentong, Deputy Director General of Publication Management Department of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television（SAPPRFT）。
Zhao Zhi'an, Professor of School of Music and Recording Arts of CUC elucidated the report at the Forum. "The total size of the Chinese music industry in 2016 was 325.322 billion yuan with the digital music accounted for 53 billion yuan, becoming a legitimate driving force for the fast development of music industry. Meanwhile, traditional music industry and emerging music industry are merging rapidly with support from the government and capital market," said Zhao.
Chinese digital music market has entered top 10 in the world according to the data issued by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry（IFPI）。 As revealed by the Report, the total output value gained from PC terminals and mobile terminals in digital music market reached 14.326 billion yuan, up 39.36% thanks to rapid growth of paid subscribers. Digital music platform profiting from diversified sources became the highlight of the year. The environment of paying-for-music was significantly improved.
Some mega-size music platforms including Tencent Music, Alibaba Music and 163 Music emerge in China now. "The development of digital music shall rely on innovations of content as well innovations of products and commercial modes," said Yang Qihu, General Legal Counsel of Tencent Music Entertainment Group. In addition to improve functions such as music search and lyrics translation, Tencent Music launched an industry-first commercial mode of digital album three years ago, and saw the sales volume skyrocket from zero to 100 million yuan in 18 months. Tencent Music also made innovations in Wesing and Kugou in order to add more fun to music. Innovations such as Music + Offline Experience, tourism, AR（Augmented Reality）/VR （Virtual Reality） are more attractive than simple investment in upstream of music works.
Encouraging more original creation of quality music is the steady force in propelling healthy and rapid development of music. Since last year, satellite parks of the national music industry base have provided more fund and sponsorship to creation of original music in the backdrop of policy support and guidance of local government. Tencent Music, Alibaba Music, 163 Music, Migu and Taihe media released Support Original Music Maker plan, providing support in production, promotion, publication, marketing, channels and platforms for original music.
"A sound copyright environment is the base for active music creation and music industry development. It is not only the responsibility of government, but also the demands of IPR owners and stakeholders," said an industry insider. "SAPPRFT will further optimize copyright environment, fight infringement and piracy, improve licensing mode and commercial mode, promote copyright registration, research in music copyright protection situation, strengthen monitoring in music copyright and spread music widely," responded Xu. （by Liu Ren）
（Editor Che Xingming）
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