Luminate to Integrate Chinese Music Data With Tencent Music Deal

Luminate has announced a new global data partnership with Tencent Music Entertainment (TME), marking the company’s first data collaboration with a chart that measures music engagement in China, the companies announced Wednesday (Nov. 5).

Under the agreement, Luminate, Billboard‘s longtime data partner, will integrate streaming and sales metrics from TME’s platforms — including QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music and JOOX — into its music data platform CONNECT. The data will be reflected on CONNECT in the coming weeks and integrated into Billboard‘s global charts on a date yet to be announced. This marks the first time Chinese music market activity will be measured and reflected on the Billboard global charts.

Wednesday’s news represents the latest international expansion for Luminate, which now tracks data for more than 60 countries, with other recent additions in the Middle East and North and Sub-Saharan Africa. With the addition of TME to its data set, the company will be able to identify the appeal of genres and artists originating in China across markets.

Notably, in 2023, the TME UNI Chart became the first music chart from the Chinese Mainland to be featured on Billboard‘s U.S. website.

“This partnership marks a pivotal moment for the global music industry, underscoring Luminate’s unwavering commitment to providing the most accurate and comprehensive measurement of music activity worldwide,” said Luminate CEO Rob Jonas in a statement. “As the industry’s most trusted source of streaming and sales data, our customers and partners expect as much information as possible to make the best business decisions, and we know how valuable it is for a market as large and influential as China to be represented in those insights.”

Added TC Pan, group vp of TME and president of the Content Cooperation Department, “This collaboration with Luminate represents a data-driven effort to establish a unified global content ecosystem. China is one of the most dynamic music markets in the world, and through this partnership, all content on TME’s platforms — whether domestic or international — will participate in, and even help shape, global music trends. Moving forward, TME will continue to strengthen its content ecosystem, enabling more quality content to be discovered worldwide, realizing long-term value through a journey from ‘data connectivity’ to ‘ecosystem synergy.’”

Also weighing in was Ryan Liang, vp of corporate development and content system at TME, who said, “Our partnership with Luminate marks TME Chart as Billboard’s first in-depth data partner in China，which demonstrates that its objectivity and professionalism have gained recognition from international authorities. We see this partnership as an opportunity to further strengthen the TME Chart’s role as a bridge connecting Chinese music with the global market. By integrating China’s music data into the global chart ecosystem, we are dedicated to delivering Chinese music to a broader audience and enhancing its international recognition.”