South Korean entertainment and retail company CJ ENM has set up a joint venture with JYP CHINA and Tencent Music Entertainment (TME), with a strategic focus on the Greater China market.
The partnership, named ONECEAD, will combine “CJ ENM’s content production expertise with JYP CHINA and TME’s local infrastructure and networks”.
China’s largest operator of music streaming services, TME operates QQ Music, Kugou Music and Kuwo Music, and karaoke platform WeSing, as well as a number of other businesses including long-form audio streaming platform Lazy Audio and live events producer TME Live.
Established via NCC Entertainment – a company established by JYP’s Chinese subsidiary and TME – ONECEAD will focus on artist development and management, with plans to expand into music production, live events, and merchandise.
Its first project will be managing seven-member group MODYSSEY, formed through Chinese reality show PLANET C: HOME RACE.
CJ ENM says that the JV marks an important strategic milestone, as it aims to build artist businesses that “resonate both regionally and globally”, working with partners in Greater China.
It plans to develop a “comprehensive music business” spanning artist management, production, touring and merchandise, with the goal of “continuously expanding artist IP business”.
The firm says it is looking to replicate the success of its LAPONE Entertainment JV in Japan, having cultivated “local talent with global appeal” such as JO1 and INI.
Last year meanwhile, it teamed up with Japanese advertising firm Hakuhodo to launch a JV called Chapter-I to develop music-based IP.
ONECEAD marks the latest example of the increasing collaboration between companies from China and Korea following years of strained relations.
K-pop groups have reportedly been unofficially barred from performing in China since around 2016/2017, but South Korean tech giant Kakao partnered with China and Japan’s largest audio streaming providers last month to launch a new ‘K-pop Artist Chart.’
Additionally, in November 2025 South Korea’s national broadcaster KBS entered into a media exchange and cooperation business agreement with Chinese state media company China Media Group.
Improved relations between the two countries could result in a substantial uplift in concert ticket, album, and merch sales for South Korean entertainment companies as they expand beyond their home market amid the continued rise in K-pop’s global popularity.
ONECEAD’s launch also comes less than 12 months after K-pop powerhouse HYBE officially launched a subsidiary in China.
The company, which is behind superstar acts including BTS, ENHYPEN, and Seventeen, set up an office in Beijing in spring 2025, aimed at helping its artists expand into the market.
As of 2024, China was the world’s fifth-largest recorded music market (IFPI).Music Business Worldwide
