Release your music in China on Tencent Music

What Tencent Music is

Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) is not one app but a group of them, and a release delivered to it reaches all of them:

The other big name is NetEase Cloud Music, China's second-largest streaming app. It is a separate store: tick both to reach listeners on China's two largest music platforms. JOOX, Tencent's app for Hong Kong and South-East Asia, is also a separate store with its own tick box, as is Kuaishou, China's second-largest short-video app, where tracks become sounds for videos.

China's AI labelling rule

Since 1 September 2025, China's Measures for Labelling AI-Generated Synthetic Content have been in force, issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China with three other ministries. For audio they require two things:

• An explicit label — for AI-generated audio, a spoken or audio cue at the start, end or a suitable point in the middle, or a clear notice in the interface
• An implicit label — information in the file's metadata saying the content is AI-generated and which service made it

Platforms that distribute content, which includes Tencent's apps, must check that metadata and add a notice to content that is declared or suspected to be AI-generated. Nobody may remove, alter or hide the labels.

What this means for you: if AI generated any of the audio on a release, declare it, and do not strip the labels the AI tool put in the file. If you are unsure whether a release meets the rule, leave Tencent Music unticked for it and send it to the rest of the world.

Lyrics, artwork and Chinese content rules

Online music in China is regulated. Tencent Music's own annual reports explain that Chinese rules prohibit content that breaks Chinese law or harms the public interest — including content that is obscene, superstitious, gruesome or defamatory — and that platforms carrying it can be penalised, up to losing their licence.

The practical result is that a release that is fine in Europe can be refused or removed in China. Read your lyrics, titles and artwork with that in mind before ticking Tencent Music. Nothing is lost elsewhere if one release is not sent to China.

The Tencent Musician Program

TME runs its own programme for independent musicians, the Tencent Musician Program (腾讯音乐人). TME describes it as an online service where aspiring artists upload original music for its apps, with publishing, marketing, data management, copyright management and training on top.

It is a Chinese-language service built for musicians releasing directly in China. You do not need it for music we deliver: our delivery reaches QQ Music, Kugou, Kuwo and WeSing on its own.

Releasing in China through Tencent Music, step by step

1. Apply and set up your artistAccounts are opened by application — tell us about your music and we usually have you ready within one working day.
2. Check the release for ChinaLyrics, titles and artwork that Chinese rules allow, and an honest answer about any AI-generated audio.
3. Add the details and territoriesKeep China in the territories. Credit featured artists as artists, not in titles.
4. Upload artwork and audioSquare artwork of at least 2400 × 2400 px and lossless WAV, FLAC or AIFF. Both are checked on upload.
5. Tick Tencent Music and NetEaseEvery plan includes every store at no extra charge. We deliver approved releases within 24 hours; how fast Tencent publishes is up to Tencent.

Set your release date two to three weeks ahead so Tencent's apps can go live on the same day as every other store.

Mistakes to avoid when releasing in China

• China left out of the territories. Tencent's apps serve mainland China; without it, the delivery does nothing.
• Unlabelled AI audio. The labelling rule has applied since September 2025.
• Ticking only one Chinese service. Tencent Music and NetEase Cloud Music are separate stores; send to both.
• Assuming JOOX is included. It is a separate store for Hong Kong and South-East Asia.

How Tencent Music pays you

Paid memberships are the biggest part of TME's income: in the second quarter of 2026 they brought in more than half its revenue. Your plays across its apps are reported back to us; there is no fixed amount per play, and we do not quote one.

Stores report in arrears — most about two months after the month the plays happened. Tencent's earnings land in your TempoDigital wallet in US dollars, and above $70 you can withdraw by Payoneer, PayPal, Wise or bank transfer.