Overview

On August 15, 2026, Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) hosted the 2026 TME Chinese Music Impact Summit in Macao, China, under the theme “Music IP: Where Future Grows.” The summit convened leading figures from the global music industry to discuss AI, live music, artists and super‑fans, and to explore creation, growth, global expansion, and long‑term value of music IP in the AI era.

Opening Remarks

Executive Chairman Cussion Kar Shun Pang stated that AI enables the industry to produce large volumes of content quickly, but this also makes high‑quality music scarcer. He emphasized that high‑quality music content creation and intellectual property protection are foundational, and that TME aims to develop higher‑quality music IP, expand music‑value boundaries, and create new growth opportunities.

Copyright Perspective

Liu Hua, Director of the China Office of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), delivered a video address titled “The Flow of Technology: Copyright Protection in the Music Industry in China,” highlighting the need for robust copyright frameworks.

Roundtable: Sustaining Great Content

The first roundtable, “Sustaining Great Content: How Can AI Power Long‑Term IP Growth?” featured Sam Hu (Managing Director, Universal Music China & SVP, Universal Music Greater China), Xin Liu (CEO, Grand Vista Music Group), Denver Chang (Chairman and Music Director, Linfair Records Ltd.), and TC Pan (Group Senior Vice President of TME, President of TME Content Cooperation, TME Distribution and TMELive, Head of TMEA/TIMA). Panelists agreed that AI should support creators rather than infringe on original works, and that the industry must prioritize high‑quality content, fair pricing, payment mechanisms, and equitable value‑sharing models to ensure lasting value.

Roundtable: New Creativity, New Rules, New Ecosystem

The second roundtable, “Music in the Age of AI: New Creativity, New Rules, New Ecosystem,” included Zhang Jing (Chief Representative, CISAC Beijing Office), Yang Ming (Professor, Peking University School of Law & Executive Vice‑Dean of PKU School of Intellectual Property), Kevin Yi (Renowned Lyricist and Music Planner), and Yang Qihu (Vice President and General Counsel, TME). They called for copyright rules covering training inputs, AI‑generated outputs, and platform governance, built on the principles of authorization, transparency, and compensation, to move AI‑generated music from “unregulated generation” toward “orderly co‑creation.”

Global Collaboration and Live‑Performance IP

Discussions on expanding Chinese‑language music IP globally featured Danny Tang (Co‑Founder & CEO, Hero Esports, co‑organizer of Tomorrowland China), Zhang Chongshuo (Founder & CEO, Sparkle Live Entertainment), and Michael Tseng (Vice President of Content Cooperation and Live Performance Business, TME). They highlighted that while line‑ups can be replicated, the live experience and its emotional value are hard to duplicate, sustaining long‑term vitality of a live‑show IP.

Building Artist IP

Kubert Leung (Renowned Music Producer and Music Director), Vince Amoroso (SVP and Global Head of Artist Services, THE TEAM), and JINBYJIN (Renowned K‑pop producer and Global A&R Executive, Kreation Music Rights) emphasized that an artist’s musical identity, authenticity rooted in personal experience, local culture, and language, defines lasting distinctiveness and global resonance.

Super‑Fan Ecosystem

A roundtable on fan engagement included Lee Hak‑hee (Vice President, DearU Co.), Dora Jin (Director, Korean Cooperation Center, Content Co‑operation Department, TME), and Jane Yang (Director of Product & Operations, QQ Music Commercialization Center). They agreed that recurring engagement, fan initiative, and two‑way emotional connection are essential, and platforms must facilitate long‑term artist‑fan relationships that evolve from awareness to co‑creation.

Internationalisation of Chinese‑Language Music

In a special conversation titled “The Sounds of Mandopop,” singer Zhou Shen spoke with Gurjeet Chima (PMC Global VP, Head of International Markets). They stressed that the priority is to get Chinese‑language music heard, emphasizing authentic self‑expression, cultural identity, and collaboration with teams that understand international markets.

Awards Presentation

At the summit’s close, TME presented annual honors to nearly 40 partners:

  • Outstanding Content Partner of the Year: Linfair Records, Hikoon Music Group, Warner Records, Universal Music, Media Asia Music, JVR Music, Grand Vista Music Group, TF Entertainment, SM Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, Taihe Music Group, Emperor Entertainment Group.
  • Pioneering IP Innovation Partner of the Year: Elephant Music Group, Rock Forward Entertainment, Enlight Media, Rock Records, Haixi Music, Stellar, HUACE MUSIC, UEC, miHoYo, SNH48, StreetVoice, YH Entertainment Group, DMG.
  • Outstanding Music Ecosystem Partner of the Year: Apple Music, Believe, Aimei Film and Television, Chunyu Film and Television, DearU, DouYu, Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), HIM International Music, Jiangsu Satellite TV, SY Music, XiXi Pictures, B'in Music, Zhejiang Satellite TV.

Closing Outlook

TME affirmed its commitment to providing an open, pragmatic platform for industry dialogue, fostering consensus among stakeholders, and unlocking the long‑term value of Chinese music IP in global markets, moving toward a future of “borderless IP.”