Chinese Video Streamer iQiyi to Use Big Data to Rank Music Show Artists
Ge Yiting
DATE:  Sep 26 2018
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
Chinese Video Streamer iQiyi to Use Big Data to Rank Music Show Artists Chinese Video Streamer iQiyi to Use Big Data to Rank Music Show Artists

(Yicai Global) Sept. 26 -- Baidu-backed iQIYI, China's answer to Netflix, has partnered with big data platforms for the first time to rate the popularity of contestants in its latest music show called Idol Hits that started this month.

iQIYI teamed up with music news outlet Billboard China, US consultancy Nielsen-CCData Media Research, freemium music streaming platform Netease Cloud Music, microblogging site Sina Weibo and others to evaluate how the performed songs do in ranking, the Beijing-based video firm said on its website early this month.

iQiyi is one of China's most popular video platforms and it had nearly 51 million paying subscribers, it said in filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission prior to its initial public offering in March. The firm was spun off from search engine giant Baidu before its IPO that raised USD2.3 billion in funds.

The Idol Hits ranking is created by four indexes based on performance factors such as audiovisual communication, social interaction, stage heat and user favorite. The results are integrated with audience votes and SMS polling to determine the ultimate winner.

It's crossing the river by touching the stones, Hu Xiaowei, chief executive of Billboard China told Yicai Global. Even if not perfect, the ranking formula tries to be multidimensional and less dependent on one platform, Hu added.

Variety shows and streaming platforms' charts are good in the sense that lesser-known artists have a chance in hitting big without large production sets and marketing efforts behind them. With the long tail effect, more artists and new songs will emerge to cater to increasingly different tastes. "There will always be more talented and imaginative people to launch good works," Hu said.

Music charts can be useful in helping people to find new types of music they like, as well as bridging the gap between different styles. "You will find that a lot of current tracks are blending rock & roll, electronic music and jazz," Hu said.

The music news outlet and the video streaming platform are also cooperating to find inroads for Chinese artists into foreign markets.

Editor: Emmi Laine

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Keywords:   Top Music Billboard,Big Data,Baidu,IQiyi