In recent years, online streaming platforms have revolutionized the music industry, making it easier than ever for artists to share their work and connect with fans. And when it comes to online music presence, few companies are as influential as China’s Alibaba Music.
Alibaba Music is a subsidiary of the larger Alibaba Group, the e-commerce giant that dominates much of China’s online retail market. Launched in 2015, Alibaba Music has quickly become one of the country’s most popular online music platforms, boasting a vast library of music and a user base in the hundreds of millions.
One of the latest hits on Alibaba Music is a song called “Unforgettable Nights” by the Chinese singer and actress Tan Weiwei. Released in July, the song has swept the online music charts, racking up millions of listens on Alibaba Music and other platforms like QQ Music and NetEase Cloud Music.
But what makes “Unforgettable Nights” so remarkable is not just its success, but the way it achieved it. The song was not promoted through traditional channels like radio or television; instead, it was first introduced through a feature on Alibaba Music called “Daily Recommended,” which suggests new songs to users based on their listening history.
From there, the track took off thanks to word of mouth and social media buzz. Fans shared the song on social networks like Weibo and WeChat, creating a viral sensation that propelled it to the top of the charts.
For Tan Weiwei, the success of “Unforgettable Nights” represents a major milestone in her career. The singer has been active in the music industry for over a decade, but had never achieved such widespread fame and acclaim.
“I’m so grateful to my fans for their support and for making this song number one,” she said in a statement to the media. “It means so much to me to see my music connect with people in this way.”
The success of “Unforgettable Nights” is also a testament to the power of online streaming platforms like Alibaba Music. Unlike traditional media outlets, which are often controlled by gatekeepers and can be difficult for new or independent artists to access, online platforms create a level playing field where anyone can upload their music and potentially reach a global audience.
This democratization of the music industry has been a driving force behind recent trends like K-pop, which owes much of its success to the ability of fans to easily discover and share new music online. And as more and more people around the world gain access to high-speed internet and mobile devices, the potential for online music to disrupt traditional music markets only continues to grow.
But while online streaming has many benefits for artists and consumers alike, it also presents new challenges and uncertainties. For example, because streaming services pay royalties based on the number of plays a song receives, there is a risk that popular artists will dominate the platform and leave struggling acts behind.
In addition, some critics have raised concerns about the role of algorithm-based recommendation systems like Alibaba Music’s “Daily Recommended” in shaping musical tastes and promoting certain genres or artists over others.
Despite these concerns, however, the rise of online streaming platforms like Alibaba Music is undoubtedly reshaping the music industry in profound ways, opening up new opportunities for artists and consumers alike. And as long as there are talented musicians like Tan Weiwei creating memorable songs, there will be an eager audience ready to discover and share them online.