Bytedance’s latest music hire will be focusing on its Douyin short-video app in China – the Chinese version of TikTok. The company has recruited Deng Linhai to lead Douyin’s music business, according to news site Technode.
The former operations director at Tencent Music Entertainment is taking over from Douyin’s former music boss Zhu Jie, who left the company in July 2019. “Prior to joining Bytedance, Deng used to be responsible for providing support for and managing independent musicians for TME,” reported Technode. Deng Linhai will be focusing on Douyin rather than Bytedance’s streaming service Resso, which is currently being tested in India and Indonesia, but the appointment is part of the wider picture of Bytedance plotting a path towards comprehensive music-licensing deals for Douyin and TikTok, as well as deeper partnerships with artists and marketing teams.
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