Yinyuetai

About Yinyuetai

Yinyuetai was a prominent music video sharing platform in China, headquartered in Beijing. Launched in 2009 by founder Zhang Dou, the website was established to provide a better user experience for finding music videos compared to other ad-heavy platforms. The company, operated by Beijing Kuanke Network Technology, focused on providing high-quality, licensed music videos.

The platform grew to become one of the largest of its kind in China, boasting over 50 million registered users by 2015. Yinyuetai distinguished itself by maintaining a single, high-quality copy of each music video to simplify searches and by securing copyright agreements with major record labels like Sony Music, Universal Music, and Warner Music, as well as Asian entertainment companies such as S.M. Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. In 2010, the platform introduced music video charts, and in 2016, it partnered with the American music brand Billboard to launch the China V Chart. Starting in 2013, Yinyuetai hosted the annual V Chart Awards, which recognized musical artists from across Asia.

Despite its initial success and raising $41.5M in funding, Yinyuetai faced significant challenges. In December 2019, reports emerged that the company was in financial distress, with its website becoming only partially accessible and its mobile application removed from the Apple App Store. The company had been blacklisted as a dishonest defaulter and faced lawsuits, including one for allegedly misappropriating album sales proceeds. By 2023, the platform had been involved in controversies, including a public apology to the K-pop group EXO for issues related to a 2017 awards ceremony. While the website's copyright information extends to 2023, its operational status has been inconsistent.