Korean music is set to benefit from significantly improved mechanisms for royalty collection in China, following the signing of major licensing agreements between South Korea’s copyright organisation, Komca, and two of China’s largest digital music platforms, Tencent Music and NetEase Cloud Music.
The agreements, announced by Komca on Tuesday, 3 February, mark a milestone in the ongoing efforts to ensure fair and transparent remuneration for Korean music creators whose works are used in the Chinese market. Through these partnerships, royalties generated from Korean music streaming and downloads in China will be efficiently collected and distributed among Komca members.
Komca explained that the Chinese Music Copyright Society (MCSC), a collective management organisation responsible for protecting the rights of music copyright holders across China, will facilitate the process. The bilateral representation agreements between Komca and MCSC enable structured monitoring, royalty calculation, and distribution, addressing challenges that have long complicated cross-border collection.
“For years, Korean music royalties in China were difficult to manage due to strict regulatory requirements and structural limitations within the digital music market,” a Komca spokesperson said. In 2025, Komca officials visited Beijing to discuss licensing procedures, data exchange protocols with MCSC, and the development of robust royalty collection systems.
Particularly, former Komca Vice President Park Ha-ki collaborated with Lee Su-man in August 2025 to meet with Tencent Music executives. The discussions covered the operational framework of the platforms, usage monitoring, and the transparent flow of royalties. These negotiations paved the way for subsequent agreements, with MCSC formalising contracts with NetEase Cloud Music in September 2025 and Tencent Music in November 2025. Both agreements include retroactive provisions, ensuring that royalties for previously used works are also addressed.
Komca President and celebrated musician Lee Si-ha commented: “This marks a significant turning point in resolving the royalty issue in China. We hope these agreements will quickly translate into real, timely royalty collection and distribution for our members.”
Below is a summary of the recently signed agreements:
| No. | Contracting Parties | Date Signed | Platform | Retroactive Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MCSC – Tencent Music | November 2025 | Tencent Music | Yes | Key step for K-pop royalty management in China |
| 2 | MCSC – NetEase Cloud Music | September 2025 | NetEase Cloud Music | Yes | Discussions ongoing for future-year agreements |
The implementation of these agreements is expected to make royalty collection and distribution in China more transparent, stable, and reliable. For Korean artists, this represents a long-awaited resolution to previously complex challenges, opening new avenues for growth in one of the world’s largest music markets.