Why does Kugou Music charge a fee? The entire Internet is hotly discussing the arrival of the era of music payment
In the past 10 days, the topic of "Kugou Music Charges" has triggered extensive discussions on major social platforms and forums. Many users have discovered that songs that were once free to listen to are now exclusive to VIPs, and even some classic old songs require paid downloads. This phenomenon is not limited to Kugou Music. Tencent Music, NetEase Cloud Music and other platforms have also adjusted their copyright policies simultaneously. The following is the core content and structured data analysis that are hotly discussed across the Internet.
1. Popularity data of music payment topics in the past 10 days
| Platform | Amount of related topics | Hot search highest ranking | Main points of dispute |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128,000 items | No. 3 | The proportion of VIP songs increased sharply | |
| Douyin | 52,000 videos | Music chart No. 1 | Secondary creation copyright restrictions |
| Zhihu | 34,000 discussions | No. 7 on the hot list | Reasonability of payment model |
| Station B | 19,000 items | Entertainment area TOP5 | Overseas platform comparison |
2. The three major charging changes that users are most concerned about
1.Free trial duration shortened: Most song previews have been changed from full versions to 30-second clips, and VIP is required for full playback.
2.Download function is fully charged: Including local caching function is now included in membership rights, non-VIP users only support online playback.
3.copyright classification system: Basically all popular new songs require payment, and some classic old songs have also begun to enter the paid library. The specific data is as follows:
| song type | Free Ratio(2023) | Free ratio (2024) | Decrease |
|---|---|---|---|
| New song debut | 35% | 8% | 77% |
| Classic old songs | 82% | 61% | 26% |
| Film and television OST | 45% | 19% | 58% |
3. Divergence between platform official responses and user attitudes
Kugou Music mentioned in a statement released on May 20: "The payment adjustment is to protect the creative rights of musicians, and the platform will launch more member-only features." However, user feedback is clearly polarized:
| user group | Support ratio | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (18-25 years old) | 32% | Accept reasonable fees but object to excessive fees |
| Office workers (26-35 years old) | 41% | Willing to pay but require higher sound quality and service |
| Senior music fans (over 36 years old) | 67% | Strongly opposed to charging for classic old songs |
4. The underlying reasons analyzed by industry experts
1.Copyright cost pressure: Music platforms need to pay billions in copyright fees to record companies every year, making the free model unsustainable.
2.Profit model transformation: As user growth slows, platforms must increase ARPU (average revenue per user).
3.Impact of international trends: The payment rate of international platforms such as Spotify exceeds 40%, while the average domestic platform is only 8%-12%, leaving huge room for improvement.
5. User response suggestions and alternatives
1.Choose members wisely: The average annual membership price is about 180 yuan, which saves 40% compared to a single monthly purchase.
2.Follow the free playlist: The platform still retains some officially planned free content, accounting for about 15%.
3.Explore new platforms: For example, Migu Music still provides a large number of free copyrighted songs by virtue of its operator advantage.
This charging change reflects the inevitable trend of the development of the digital music industry. When the free lunch era ends, users need to re-examine the value concept of music consumption, and platforms also need to find a better balance between commercial interests and user experience.
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