Annual report charts trends in Chinese entertainment

The newly released 2024 Tencent Entertainment White Paper provides an in-depth review of the trends and transformations in China's entertainment sector over the past year, reflecting a dynamic year marked by both challenges and progress.

The comprehensive report features five key sections: film, television dramas, variety shows, music and celebrities. It was unveiled during the 2024 Tencent Entertainment Annual Gala and White Paper Release event at the Beijing Music Industrial Park on Wednesday.

According to the report, as of Nov 20, the total box office revenue for the film sector reached 39.54 billion yuan ($5.42 billion), a year-on-year decrease of 28 percent. The comedy YOLO became this year's highest-grossing film in China, earning 3.45 billion yuan. However, micro dramas emerged as a dark horse, with a market size of 50.44 billion yuan - up 34.9 percent year-on-year, surpassing the film industry's box office earnings.

The TV drama industry is shifting its focus from quantity to quality production. This year, a total of 236 dramas were aired, 33 fewer than in 2023. Despite the decline in volume, works such as Blossoms Shanghai and Joy of Life 2 became smash hits. Popular dramas embraced innovative genre fusions, blending elements like crime-solving and romance. Furthermore, the growing popularity of realist themes created new opportunities for middle-aged performers.

The music sector reached 729 million online users, although growth has slowed and the increase in paid users has declined, signaling a saturated market. Offline concerts remained popular, with over 3,500 performances held throughout the year. Music festivals expanded into third-tier and smaller cities. The concept of "music plus tourism" gained attraction in these cities, supported by local policies and sponsorships from various industries.

The variety show industry is experiencing a slow recovery, with 111 online variety shows produced, a year-on-year increase of 11 percent, while traditional satellite TV variety shows remained stable at 73. The most prevalent genres included music, competition and travel-themed shows. Long-running programs continued to perform well with standout examples such as the recent hit See You Again Season 4, which explores the essence of marriage.

During the annual gala, a total of 27 awards were also presented, including Best Filmmaker of the Year, Best TV Actor and Actress of the Year, Best Singer of the Year, and Best Male and Female Variety Show Performers.