Shanghai. October 15. INTERFAX-CHINA - Shanghai Synergy Culture and Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of China's second largest entertainment group Shanghai Media Group, and U.S. music and media company a-Peer Holding Group have established a joint venture in Shanghai offering digital music services, a senior official with the joint venture told Interfax on Oct. 14.

The joint venture, a-Peer Synergy Shanghai Culture and Technology Company, has established partnerships with 100 music record companies in China and abroad. Through its online platform, it aims to introduce Chinese artists to the United States, and U.S. artists to China.

"The joint venture came about as U.S. music firms are required by Chinese regulations to partner with a Chinese company if they wish to do business in China," said William Shi, vice president of a-Peer Synergy Shanghai.

a-Peer Holding Group has a controlling share of the joint venture through its Hong Kong-registered branch, Shi said. He refused to reveal further details about the joint venture's share structure, though did say that the joint venture is operated by a local team rather than out of the United States.

Shi said that the threat of piracy has prompted the joint venture to expand into holding live shows and offering marketing services. "In the future, we plan to sell some entertainment-related products, such as t-shirts, online through an e-commerce platform," Shi said.

The joint venture will also offer wireless music and value-added services through a partnership with China Mobile, which has an established working relationship with Shanghai Synergy Culture and Entertainment Group.

Shanghai Synergy Culture and Entertainment Group is 51 percent controlled by SMG, with the remaining 49 percent controlled by Shanghai Century Publishing Group.

10/15 19:28
Tagged as: a-Peer Music MP3 SMG