Kakao Entertainment Partners with Tencent and Line to Launch 'K-pop Artist Chart' Next Year

Aggregating Music Platform Usage Across Asia
Tracking K-pop Trends... Valuable Data for Label Strategy

Kakao Entertainment has formed a strategic partnership with Tencent Music in China and Line Music in Japan to launch the 'K-pop Artist Chart' (tentative name).

Kakao Entertainment announced that it has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with both Tencent Music and Line Music to launch the K-pop Artist Chart, which will integrate usage data from QQ Music, KUGOU Music, KUWO Music, and JOOX-platforms under Tencent Music Entertainment in China-as well as Line Music in Japan, within its music platform Melon.

The K-pop Artist Chart will be calculated based on user activity and usage data from the relevant music platforms. The goal is to introduce the chart on Melon in the first half of next year. By presenting usage trends from major Asian markets as a single flow, users will be able to check K-pop trends on Melon, and artists and labels are expected to use the chart as valuable data for developing their activity strategies.

Tencent Music operates QQ Music, KUGOU Music, KUWO Music, and JOOX-music streaming platforms with significant influence in mainland China and Southeast Asia.

The Melon charts, including the Top 100 and Hot 100, operated by Kakao Entertainment, have established themselves as key indicators representing the K-pop industry. Data from the Melon charts are used for tallying winners at the year-end K-pop awards ceremony MMA (Melon Music Awards), for ranking on major domestic music programs, and, since June 2023, have even been reflected in the US Billboard charts, thereby expanding the global influence of K-pop.

Japan's music streaming service Line Music is characterized by offering a music experience integrated with the ecosystem of the communication application 'Line,' which has 99 million users in Japan.

Jang Yoonjung, CEO of Kakao Entertainment, said, "This new chart will provide a highly reliable standard for the K-pop market, creating new value for the industry, artists, and fans alike. Kakao Entertainment will continue to contribute to the growth of the K-pop ecosystem and the enhancement of its global status."