Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The online music service industry has experienced significant growth over the past 20 years, characterized by streaming and globalization. According to IFPI, the global recorded music industry revenue is projected to reach approximately $30 billion in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 5%. Streaming revenue accounts for nearly 70% of this total, with paid subscription revenue expected to reach $15.1 billion, growing by 9.5% year-on-year. Advertising revenue is anticipated to grow by 1.2% [2][3]. Key Characteristics of the Online Music Service Industry - The industry has high entry barriers due to high content copyright costs and strong two-sided network effects. High copyright costs make it difficult for new entrants to compete effectively in the short term. The market is dominated by major record labels, which control a significant portion of the content [3][4]. - The upstream of the industry is primarily controlled by record companies, which manage a large number of tracks. The downstream monetization relies on the user base of platforms, generating revenue through subscriptions and advertising. The three major music groups in the U.S. control 85% of the track count and 74% of the global digital music upstream [5][6]. Competitive Landscape - In the overseas market, platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music dominate, with market shares of 36%, 31%, and 24% respectively. However, their profitability is affected by the monopoly of upstream record companies. In contrast, in the Chinese market, Tencent Music and NetEase Cloud Music hold the majority market share, approximately 70-80% combined, while the emerging platform, Soda Music, poses limited threat due to its recent establishment and lack of quality content [6][7][8]. Trends in the Domestic Online Music Market - The main trends in the domestic online music market focus on increasing the number of paid users and raising the average revenue per user (ARPU). Tencent Music's monthly active users are nearing their peak, with future growth relying on paid user numbers and pricing. NetEase Cloud Music and Soda Music are currently in the phase of expanding their user base [9][10]. - The domestic market has seen significant regulatory changes, such as the strict copyright regulations in 2015 and the administrative penalties against Tencent in 2021, which have allowed competitors like NetEase Cloud Music to accumulate more tracks [10]. Profit Growth Strategies - Online music platforms are achieving profit growth by optimizing content costs, expanding user bases, and increasing subscription revenues. The market is valuing internet companies highly due to their stable business models and favorable competitive landscapes. Tencent Music and NetEase Cloud Music have room for long-term profit margin improvements [11][12]. Valuation and Market Sentiment - The online music sector has seen significant stock price increases this year, driven by favorable policies, market regulatory guidance, and content cost optimization. Despite low double-digit revenue growth, investor confidence remains high due to these factors [13][14]. - In 2025, internet companies are receiving high valuations due to their stable business models and competitive environments. Tencent Music and NetEase Cloud Music are particularly well-positioned, with Tencent Music's non-GAAP P/E ratio around 26-27 times and NetEase Cloud Music's around 31-32 times [15][16]. Future Development Potential - Both Tencent Music and NetEase Cloud Music have significant growth potential, with opportunities to double their paid user bases. They are also actively expanding into long audio, artist management, and fan operations [16][17]. - Tencent Music has made strategic investments, including a $1.26 billion cash acquisition of Himalaya and a stake in South Korea's SM Entertainment, indicating its intent to strengthen its position in the long audio content and fan economy sectors [20]. Notable Developments in NetEase Cloud Music - NetEase Cloud Music is enhancing its social attributes and UGC ecosystem, showing considerable potential for profit improvement. The platform has a high proportion of users born after the 90s, and its recent features, such as "Music Notes," are expected to enhance its financial performance [21].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Outperform the Market" [4][26]. Core Views - The company's revenue increased by 7% year-on-year, with a notable profit performance primarily influenced by sales expenses. In Q1 2025, the company achieved a revenue of 28.8 billion yuan, a 7% increase year-on-year. The Non-GAAP net profit attributable to the parent company was 11.2 billion yuan, representing a 32% year-on-year growth, with a Non-GAAP net profit margin of 39%, up by 7 percentage points year-on-year [10][4]. - The online gaming business showed strong growth, with revenue reaching 23.4 billion yuan in Q1 2025, a 15% increase year-on-year. PC game revenue surged by 85% to 8.1 billion yuan, driven by the return of popular titles and new game releases [2][19]. - The company has adjusted its profit expectations upward, forecasting adjusted net profits of 39.3 billion, 42.5 billion, and 46.7 billion yuan for 2025-2027, reflecting increases of 5%, 2%, and 2% respectively [4][26]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, the company reported a comprehensive gross margin of 64.1%, an increase of 0.7 percentage points year-on-year. The gross margin for games and value-added services was 68.8%, down by 0.7 percentage points due to changes in game product structure. The total operating expense ratio was 28%, a decrease of 7 percentage points year-on-year, with the sales expense ratio at 9.4%, down by 4.6 percentage points [10][11]. Game Business - The mobile game revenue was 15.4 billion yuan, down 4% year-on-year due to a high base from the previous year. However, the PC game revenue of 8.1 billion yuan saw an impressive 85% increase, attributed to the successful return of titles like "Overwatch" and the performance of new games [2][19]. - Several new games have performed exceptionally well, enhancing the company's global gaming influence. Titles like "Marvel's Contest of Champions" and "Outsiders" have quickly climbed to the top of sales charts [19][2]. Other Business Segments - The company's education segment, Youdao, reported a net revenue of 1.3 billion yuan, a 7% year-on-year decline, but the decline rate has narrowed compared to the previous quarter. Key products in AI educational services and programming learning have shown significant growth [20]. - NetEase Cloud Music reported a net revenue of 1.9 billion yuan, down 8% year-on-year, with a gross margin of 36.8%. The decline was primarily due to a one-time copyright adjustment in the previous year [23].

Industry Overview - The global recorded music market is projected to reach $29.6 billion in 2024, reflecting a 5% year-on-year growth [1] - Music streaming channels are the primary growth driver, accounting for 68% of the market, with revenues expected to reach $20.4 billion in 2024, marking a 7% increase [1] - The U.S. holds the largest market share at 38%, followed by Japan at 8%, the UK, Germany, and China, which ranks fifth with a market size of $1.6 billion, representing a 9.6% growth and 5% of the global share [1] Online Music Industry Dynamics - The online music industry is entering a phase of healthy growth due to improved competitive dynamics, increased user willingness to pay, and a restructured value chain [1] - The domestic music industry in China shows stable demand, with leading companies achieving differentiation through community building and support for independent music content, indicating long-term growth potential [2] - The online music platforms benefit from higher migration costs, longer content lifecycles, and stronger payment stickiness compared to long video platforms [2] Company Performance - Tencent Music reported a 8.7% year-on-year revenue growth to 7.36 billion yuan in Q1, with adjusted net profit increasing by 22.8% to 2.23 billion yuan [3] - Tencent's online music service revenue grew by 15.9% to 5.8 billion yuan, with subscription revenue rising by 16.6% to 4.22 billion yuan, and paid user count reaching 122.9 million [3] - NetEase Cloud Music achieved a net revenue of 1.858 billion yuan in Q1, with operating costs decreasing by 6.6% year-on-year, leading to a gross profit of 683 million yuan, reflecting a 13.7% quarter-on-quarter growth [3]