SM Entertainment and Tencent Music Partner to Launch New Idol Groups and Expand Globally
May 29, 2025
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Beyond the existing music distribution-oriented cooperation, this collaboration has greatly expanded the scope of cooperation to co-produce new idol groups targeting the Asian market, IP projects, and local performances. As TME recently acquired Hive's stake in SM and became a major shareholder, cooperation between the two companies began in earnest.
The combination of SM's global IP and content production capabilities and TME's vast user-based platform and distribution infrastructure is expected to create explosive synergy in Asia and contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of both companies.
In particular, the collaboration will include the introduction of local idol groups in China with the goal of debuting within the next two to three years, while SM will be in charge of overall production such as casting, training, and production, and TME will be in charge of local promotion, album and music distribution. Through this, the two companies plan to jointly foster an idol group representing Asia.
In the IP business, various businesses such as real and digital photo cards, character products, pop-up stores, and video contents in China are jointly developed.
In the field of performance, SM artists will strengthen their cooperation on the tour, including the SMTOWN LIVE concert scheduled to be held in Hong Kong in 2026. In addition, it plans to target a wide range of online fan bases through live streaming services using SM's Beyond LIVE technology.
The strategic partnership, which combines the strengths of the two companies, is an important turning point for expanding SM's global influence and strengthening its position in the Chinese market, and is expected to further solidify its position in the global market along with the creation of a new business model.
star77@sportschosun.com
