Xiami launches Taobao-like service

Xiami.com, the online music arm of Internet giant Alibaba, launched an online platform dedicated to independent musicians and small record companies on Thursday, allowing them to sell music to consumers directly.

The platform will act as a "Taobao marketplace" in China's music industry, which bridges unknown musicians and music lovers on the Internet, said Wang Hao, CEO of Xiami, at a Beijing news briefing.

Alibaba acquired Xiami at the beginning of the year, signifying the company's ambition to explore China's music market. Other Internet giants, including Baidu Inc, JD.com and Tencent Holdings Ltd, were already battling to attract hundreds of millions of music fans.

Most music downloads in China are free of charge, since the country's intellectual property protection is quite weak. Wang said most independent musicians in China are not well paid, so he wants Xiami to become a revenue source for them.

The platform, i.xiami.com, kicked off on Thursday. Xiami said it allows independent musicians to upload their products and charge whatever prices they want. All the proceeds generated on the platform will go to independent musicians' pockets during the first two years, Wang said.