Tencent Music beats revenue estimates on advertising, paid subscriber boost

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Tencent Music, China’s answer to Spotify (NYSE:SPOT), has tried to attract more paying users in recent months by focusing on long-form audio and expanding its library through licensing deals with Universal Music Group and Sony (NYSE:SONY) Music.

Total revenue of the Tencent Holdings (OTC:TCEHY) Ltd-controlled company rose by 15.5% to 8.01 billion yuan ($1.24 billion) in the second quarter. Analysts were expecting a figure of 8.13 billion yuan, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

The results come amid an intensifying regulatory crackdown on China’s internet giants.

Tencent Music reiterated in a statement that it accepted a decision by the regulator in July on exclusive music licensing arrangements, which is expected to have some impact on its operations.

Profit attributable to equity holders of the company fell to 827 million yuan, from 939 million yuan a year earlier.

($1 = 6.4742 Chinese yuan renminbi)