Independent distribution and label services company finetunes GmbH has inked a trio of new strategic partnerships in Asia.
Hamburg-based finetunes, which represents record labels such as Erased Tapes, Berliner Philharmoniker and Honest Jon’s Records, has signed a deal for local representation in the region with the Singapore-based company Cross Ratio Entertainment, represented by Dean Augustine and Jolene Ruth Tan.
Augustine and Tan will represent finetunes throughout Asia, including handling the acquisition of local label and artist partners, as well as providing focused, localised marketing for finetunes releases to digital services across Asia.
In addition to acting as agents for and representatives of finetunes in the Asian region, Cross Ratio offers artist management,physical distribution in the Asian region, publishing and event planning services and consultancy.
Augustine and Tan said in a statement: “The Cross Ratio Entertainment x finetunes partnership has close synergy in the way we do business and what we believe in: Quality over quantity, a fruitful teamwork and a certain and inspiring enterprise culture.
“Finetunes has great potential in the Asian market, as digital music is now slowly picking up in this region, especially in the less developed countries. People are more exposed to the digital world and it is the best time now to show them what we can collectively do.”
The news comes as finetunes confirms two other significant developments to its business in Asia:
- In China, finetunes has signed an exclusive distribution partnership with the Beijing-based company R2G. With over 10 years of market expertise R2G, which is part of China Music Corporation (CMC), has established the most extensive digital music distribution network in China. R2G will supply finetunes’ catalogue to key local services including Tencent’s QQ Music, Kugou, Kuwo and TTPod;
- In Korea, finetunes has concluded an exclusive distribution agreement with local partner KDigital Media, which will see finetunes’ catalogue being delivered to local Korean services for the first time. Seoul-based KDigital Media will supply digital services in the Korean market including Melon, Bugs, Mnet, Naver, Soribada and more.
Mathew Daniel, President of R2G, said, “We are excited to be working with finetunes and helping to bring the music of their artists to a new audience in China. We are looking forward to helping to extend finetunes’ global reach into China and at the same time, provide music fans in China with a wider selection of music.”
Charlie Ahn, CEO of KDigital Media, comments: “We are very happy to have signed an exclusive partnership with finetunes for the Korea market. We look forward to introducing people in Korea to the great artists which finetunes represents.”
Furthermore, finetunes has signed new pan-Asia agreements with key regional digital services including KKBox and Saavn.
Finetunes Head of Content Distribution David Balfour said: “Finetunes recognises the fast-growing importance of the Asian music markets and understands that achieving the best results for our artists and labels in the region requires both a local presence and a localised marketing strategy.
“We’re therefore delighted to be strengthening our A&R, distribution and marketing presence in Asia through these new partnerships. We’re especially pleased to have a new team in place with partners who understand the finetunes ethos and the quality of the artists and labels we distribute.”Music Business Worldwide
