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    TME
    Earnings call· Jun 2026(Q2 FY26)

    Tencent Music Entertainment Group Q2 FY26 earnings call TME

    Aug 11, 2026 Source

    Executive summary

    Tencent Music Entertainment Group Q2 FY26 — Strong IP-Driven Growth and Ximalaya Integration

    Tencent Music Entertainment delivered resilient Q2 FY26 results, driven by robust growth in music-related services and strategic expansion of its IP-driven ecosystem. The integration of Ximalaya is enhancing content offerings and user engagement, while deep collaborations within the Tencent ecosystem are expanding user reach and monetization opportunities. The company remains focused on product innovation, AI application, and shareholder returns amidst an evolving competitive landscape.

    Highlights

    5
    • Total revenues grew 6% year-on-year to RMB 8.9 billion.

    • Revenues from music-related services grew 11% year-on-year, driven by membership and offline performance.

    • Adjusted EBITDA increased 5% year-on-year to RMB 3.3 billion.

    • Cash, cash equivalents, term deposits, and short-term investments reached RMB 44.2 billion, up from RMB 41 billion QoQ.

    • Repurchased USD 400 million of shares in Q2 FY26, part of a USD 1 billion program.

    Concerns

    3
    • Gross margin slightly declined to 44.2% compared to 44.4% in Q2 FY25.

    • Operating expenses increased to 14.5% of total revenue from 13.7% in Q2 FY25.

    • Advertising business experienced headwinds in a challenging macro environment and competitive market.

    Guidance & targets

    6
    CategoryTargetConfidence
    GP margin
    decreasing slightly year-over-year
    medium materiality
    Medium
    Sales expenses
    will go up a little bit
    medium materiality
    Medium
    Operating expenses
    will slightly go up
    medium materiality
    Medium
    Net margin
    will go down slightly
    medium materiality
    Medium
    EBITDA
    will edge up a little bit
    medium materiality
    Medium
    Share repurchase program
    another round of share buyback
    high materiality
    High

    Segment performance

    4
    SegmentRevenueYoYQoQMargin
    Total Revenue
    Primarily driven by strong growth in revenues from music-related services. Ximalaya consolidation contributed approximately RMB 0.4 billion.
    RMB 8.9 billion6%
    Music-related services
    Driven by solid growth in revenues from membership services and offline performance-related services.
    11%
    Membership services
    SVIP membership program continues to expand, driven by diversified privileges and spatial packages. Ximalaya consolidation contributed to revenue growth.
    RMB 4.8 billion8%
    Marketing and consumption services
    Offline performance-related services delivered robust results. Sales of digital albums achieved solid performance, driven by new album launches. IP-related consumption services, particularly live events and artist merchandise, delivered strong double-digit year-over-year growth.
    solid growth

    Operational metrics

    14
    Gross margin
    44.2%vs 44.4% in Q2 FY25
    Q2 FY26

    Slight decline due to revenue mix shift towards offline performance, but Ximalaya consolidation had a favorable impact.

    Operating expenses
    RMB 1.3 billionvs 13.7% of total revenue in Q2 FY25
    Q2 FY26

    Increased as a percentage of revenue, driven by Ximalaya consolidation and amortization.

    Net profit attributable to equity holders
    RMB 2.5 billionvs RMB 2.4 billion in Q2 FY25
    Q2 FY26

    GAAP net profit.

    IFRS Net profit attributable to equity holders
    RMB 2.7 billionup 4% YoY
    Q2 FY26

    IFRS net profit.

    Adjusted EBITDA
    RMB 3.3 billionup 5% YoY
    Q2 FY26

    Non-IFRS measure of profitability.

    Cash, cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments
    RMB 44.2 billionvs RMB 41 billion as of March 31, 2026
    As of June 30, 2026

    Combined balance, affected by exchange rate changes.

    Ximalaya revenue contribution
    RMB 0.4 billion
    Q2 FY26

    Contribution to overall revenues from the consolidation of Ximalaya.

    SVIP user base
    Q2 FY26

    SVIP membership program continues to expand, with diversified privileges driving user adoption and revenue growth. Management aims to stabilize the SVIP base.

    AI agents in QQ Music and Kugou
    Q2 FY26

    Upgraded AI agents enable better understanding of user intent and personalized playlist creation, increasing engagement and recommendation-driven streams.

    Weixin Video Accounts collaboration
    Q2 FY26

    Deepened cooperation by bringing labels and artists into its ecosystem, creating a seamless journey from music discovery to full track listening on TME. TME is taking charge of music business operations under Weixin Video Account.

    Weixin AI agent Xiaomi integration
    Q2 FY26

    Tapping into Weixin's massive user base to help users discover songs, generate playlists, stream music, and share tracks.

    Smart vehicle coverage
    Q2 FY26

    Broadened through deeper collaborations with leading automakers to deliver smarter in-car experiences.

    Harmony OS integration
    Q2 FY26

    Among the first music platforms to integrate, expanding reach within its fast-growing ecosystem and positioning for new monetization opportunities.

    Offline Performance business
    greatly higher in Q2 than Q1
    Q2 FY26

    Seasonal changes in the offline performance business contributed to the slight quarter-over-quarter decline in GP margin.

    Industry KPIs

    5
    MetricValueDetails
    ARPU arm
    Paid members subscribers
    Member quality and retention
    Share buyback capital returnedUSD 400 millionUSD
    Content spend title performance

    Product announcements

    5
    ProductTypeDetails
    Ximalaya integrationmilestone
    AI agents (QQ Music and Kugou)update
    Weixin's AI agent, Xiaomi integrationlaunch
    Harmony OS integrationlaunch
    Kuwo free versionlaunch

    Deals & partnerships

    8
    XimalayaConsolidation of Ximalaya into TME Group to strengthen content advantage with premium audiobooks and podcasts.

    Ximalaya brings premium audio content, strong original production capabilities (9 of top 10 new online novel titles produced in-house), and a user base covering online and email users in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, especially in kids' content and internet literature.

    Free Music GroupDeepened collaboration beyond traditional content licensing to include digital-first releases, content co-creation, physical offerings, and offline experiences.

    Aims to work more closely with creators and rights holders across the music value chain, creating more value from premium IP.

    Hua Fe and TV, Linfair Entertainment and Zhejiang Satellite TVPartnership to bring original soundtracks and popular music variety shows to TME's platform.

    Creates a more immersive connection between music and digital entertainment, enhancing content offerings.

    The Black LabelInvestment to deepen collaboration on a broader range of IP-related initiatives, including artist promotion and merchandise development.

    Helps leading artists build deeper connections with their audience in China, exploring cross-border opportunities and deepening the fan-based economy. Expanded Star Life card lineup with artists from The Black Label.

    SM EntertainmentPartnership to nurture more talented artists and organize IP-based events.

    Hosted 3 fan meetings in Macau for SM Entertainment's Trainee Group, SMTR25, attracting tens of thousands of fans and generating strong merchandise sales.

    Weixin Video AccountsDeepened cooperation by bringing leading labels, top artists, and independent musicians into its ecosystem.

    Creates a more seamless journey from music discovery to full track listing on TME, expanding user reach and enhancing content distribution.

    Weixin PayCollaboration to help lightweight products attract users and deepen engagement.

    Helps products like body Music and Kugou concept attract users looking for a simple music experience.

    Changan, Li Auto and XiaopengDeeper collaborations to broaden smart vehicle coverage and introduce LLM-powered search.

    Delivers a smarter in-car experience, extending user reach beyond mobile and PC into cross-device listening scenarios.

    Risks & headwinds

    4
    Complex and evolving marketQ2 FY26

    unquantified

    Mitigation: Strengthening content ecosystem, expanding IP value, and integrating Ximalaya to enrich offerings and reach more users.

    Competitive landscapeOngoing

    unquantified

    Mitigation: Innovating products, broadening user reach, enriching membership offerings, deepening integration with Tencent ecosystem, and expanding cross-device scenarios. Focusing on core music business and high-value services.

    Advertising business headwindsQ2 FY26

    unquantified

    Mitigation: Improving ad exposure, enhancing entry reach and experience, offering more engaging interactive products, deepening collaboration with Tencent ecosystem, and leveraging expanded content and shared technology from Ximalaya.

    Copyright protection in the AI eraOngoing

    unquantified

    Mitigation: Strengthening copyright protection efforts through proactive screening, takedown, legal action, closer industry collaboration, and engagement with regulators, music labels, and artists.

    What to watch in Q3 FY26

    5

    IP-related business revenue growth

    H2 FY26
    CurrentSolid growth in Q2 FY26, strong double-digit YoY growth for live events and artist merchandise
    TargetContinued steady growth

    Why it matters

    IP-related business is a key driver for revenue growth and a competitive moat, especially against headwinds in other areas.

    For this year, competition, we do see some typewinds from the competitive area, be it membership and as business. But our IP-related services to employing like concerts and performance are experienced in steady drop, mainly because of the following reasons.

    Q&A highlights

    5

    How will IP-related business drive revenue growth for the rest of the year, and what is the financial outlook and impact of Ximalaya consolidation in H2 FY26?

    IP-related services, especially concerts and performances, are experiencing steady growth due to strong IP supply, content collaboration, and diversified monetization channels. Ximalaya's integration creates a one-stop music-plus-audio platform, amplifying the user base and time spent, unlocking future growth potential.

    For this year, competition, we do see some typewinds from the competitive area, be it membership and as business. But our IP-related services to employing like concerts and performance are experienced in steady drop, mainly because of the following reasons.

    asked by Unknown Analyst · answered by Liang Zhu (Executives)

    3 min read7 chapters

    Detailed Narrative

    01

    Strengthening Content Ecosystem and IP Strategy

    TME is strengthening its content ecosystem by deepening strategic partnerships, developing proprietary IP, and extending premium content across diverse experiences. This includes collaborations with Free Music Group for digital-first releases and content co-creation, as well as partnerships with TV networks for original soundtracks and music variety shows. The company is also focusing on in-house production of high-quality proprietary content, which has shown strong streaming performance.

    02

    Ximalaya Integration and Audio Expansion

    The addition of Ximalaya significantly strengthens TME's content advantage by integrating premium audiobooks and podcasts, including popular categories like online novels, history, and kids' content. This expansion aims to reach users across more listening occasions, enhance user time spent, and improve engagement. Ximalaya's strong original content capabilities, with 9 of its top 10 new online novel titles this year produced in-house, are expected to provide better economics and unlock future growth potential for the combined music and audio platform.

    03

    Artist Development and Fan-Based Economy

    TME is expanding its talent development and artist management, supporting artists like T wrapper Guy and Jane Zhang with content promotion, IP development, and concert planning, including stadium tours. The company also invested in The Black Label to deepen collaboration on IP-related initiatives, artist promotion, and merchandise development. This integrated approach, combining content creation, streaming, artist development, live experiences, and merchandise, is driving strong double-digit year-over-year growth in IP-related consumption services.

    04

    Product Innovation and AI Application

    Product innovation focuses on enhancing user experience, leading to stronger engagement and improved average daily time spent. This includes seamless discovery-to-playback journeys, enhanced content discovery features like swipe types and video feeds, and new 3D Nikon S audio for premium users. Thoughtful application of AI, such as upgraded AI agents in QQ Music and Kugou, enables personalized playlists and more intuitive music discovery, increasing recommendation-driven streams and user retention.

    05

    Deepening Tencent Ecosystem Integration

    TME is expanding user reach by deepening integration with the broader Tencent ecosystem. Collaborations with Weixin Video Accounts bring leading labels and artists into its ecosystem, facilitating seamless music discovery and full track listening. Partnerships with Weixin Pay attract users to lightweight products, while integration with Weixin's AI agent, Xiaomi, allows users to discover songs, generate playlists, and stream music with ease, leveraging Weixin's massive user base.

    06

    Cross-Device Expansion and Monetization

    The company is extending its user reach beyond mobile and PC into cross-device listening scenarios, broadening smart vehicle coverage through collaborations with automakers like Changan, Li Auto, and Xiaopeng, and introducing LLM-powered search for in-car experiences. TME is also among the first music platforms to integrate with Harmony OS, strengthening its presence and positioning for new monetization opportunities within its fast-growing ecosystem.

    07

    SVIP Program and Membership Value

    TME is elevating its SVIP offering by transforming it into a multidimensional experience centered on IP engagement, complementing premium music with premium audio and a growing portfolio of IP-driven member benefits. Digital albums and tailored SVIP packages, featuring popular member benefits like photo cards and NFC cards, continue to drive stronger member adoption and user engagement, contributing to healthy growth in the SVIP user base, ARPPU, time spent, and retention.

    AI-generated summary of the company’s earnings call. Not investment advice.