News » Music Services Asia

FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012 Malaysian debut

News

Feb 222012

Missed the Laneway Festival in Singapore? Worry no more, cause South-East Asian music lovers are spoilt for choice in 2012. A recent announcement of Future Music Festival (FMF)’s Asian debut in Kuala Lumpur (MY) is set on 17 March, 2012.

The lovechild of Australian entertainment mega-giant Future Entertainment and Malaysian counterpart, Livescape, Future Music Asia 2012 lineup combines the best in local talent as well as International acts hailing from Australia, the UK, the States, and beyond. Drool-illiciting names include The Chemical Brothers and The Wombats (UK), DJ Grandmaster Flash (USA), Pendulum DJs and Sneaky Sound System (AU), as well as regional favorites The Great Spy Experiment (SG), Goodnight Electric (ID) and local flavors such as Kyoto Protocol, Goldfish + Blink, Twilight Actiongirl, and They Will Kill Us All.

The introduction of FMF into the South-East Asian live music scene is a definitive step in the expansion of the larger Australasian music scene.
Sounds awesome? Click here for the full line-up.

Canada to host ASEAN music reps, March 2012

News

Feb 222012

This is the stuff we at ‘Music Weekly’ love to write! The folks at Canadian Asociation for the Advancement of Music and the Arts (CAAMA) and Canadian Music Week (CMW) have recently issued a statement on their website, stating that they intend to “open the market for Canadian music companies to do business with the ASEAN countries”.

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) boasts a population of over 600 million people, and the thriving scene of local and Western-influenced art and music (facilitated by the launch of social media platforms such as Facebook, and music channels such as MTV in the region in recent years) is of great interest to CAAMA, who wish to broaden their horizons by forming creative partnerships in relatively unexplored territories. CMW, an initiative supported by CAAMA, hosts a conference and showcase of film, music, comedy and arts professionals, lands in Toronto from 21-25 March, 2012.

Jasper Donat, the CEO of Music Matters and Branded Ltd, and Steve McClure, Executive Editor of McClure’s Asia and Music News Tokyo, will co-moderate a panel of South-East Asian Music Professionals at the CMW Conference, which will increase networking opportunities among Canadian and South-East Asian music industry professionals.

Interested? Visit CMW’s website for more information.

Reports on Piracy: some Asian countries make it on Priority Watch List

News

Feb 222012

The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) has recently published their 2012 Special 301 Report on Copyright Protection and Enforcement, an annual report that reviews acts, policies, and practices of foreign countries’ protection of intellectual property rights and equitable market access.

A few Asian countries appeared on the IIPA watch lists this year: those listed under the Priority Watch List are China, Indonesia and Thailand. Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, however, are on the Watch List.

A study by BASCAP (Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting And Piracy) reveals that the value (not losses) of digitally pirated music, movies and software has reached an estimate of $30-75 billion in 2010. This amount is predicted to hit $80-240 billion by 2015. Not only does this imply job destruction and business shortfalls, but it also slows down the setup of new legal distribution channels, and the growth and investment in the creative industries.

Good news for Singaporeans though – despite the country’s lack of legal downloading and streaming services, they were given a special mention for copyright enforcement and/or market access-related concerns by the IIPA.

Interview with YouTube

News

Feb 172012

In today’s world of wireless internet connections and endless array of gadgets, who hasn’t really heard of the video-sharing website YouTube? Its recent launch of localized website versions in the Philippines and Singapore proves that YouTube is set out to conquer the South-East Asia region. So we sat down with Eshan Ponnadurai, Head of YouTube Marketing South-East Asia, and talked about settling in the region, the amount of potential in the pool of local artists, and their plans for the future.

Why did it take so long for YouTube to come and settle in this part of the world?

The launch of YouTube has coincided with the development of Google’s presence here in South-East Asia. We set up our regional office here in Singapore only five years ago and are in the process of setting up local offices around the region. It’s important for us to have a strong local presence in our markets to ensure we understand our users and are in position to deliver meaningful content on YouTube that engages them. So we’ve made sure that when we look to develop the presence of YouTube in a particular market, we are setup with strong local presence to support YouTube in a meaningful manner.

What are your expectations of this market?

We’re very excited about the potential in South-East Asia. First off, we’re already seeing amazing results both in terms of viewership and of the groundswell of local talent that is emerging on YouTube. We’re now seeing 60 hours of video uploaded every minute and 4 billion video views a day – South-East Asia contributes to that. People are also using their mobile phones to access YouTube, generat[ing] more than 600 million views a day on mobile phones and it’s becoming a particularly important way to access YouTube, especially in Asia. Considering the fact that in many regions, Internet penetration is less than 30% and broadband and smartphone penetration is even lower in many, then we are very confident of YouTube’s success in the region going forward.

What are your main challenges?

I wouldn’t say that there are specific challenges that exist for us, but rather big opportunities.
YouTube is a great destination for premium content, but at the same time, an ideal platform for up-and-coming talent. Going forward, our vision – and thus our challenge – is to establish YouTube as a platform that can nurture local talent form South-East Asia and provide them with the opportunity to amplify their message and creativity as we establish ourselves in this region. We are excited about the level of talent that exists here in South-East Asia, and the challenge for us is to identify the right avenues and vehicles to develop it further and create awareness about it globally.

What model do you propose?

YouTube supports the development of content produced by businesses and individuals to monetize their content and build global audiences. As our tag line suggests, we give everyone an opportunity to broadcast themselves.

After Philippines and Singapore, what are your next steps?

Our intention is to continue growing YouTube across the region, so we definitively have plans to launch YouTube in other markets. As for which markets and when, you will have to watch this space!

Watch the cute “One Hour Per Second” Youtube video:

and check out Music Services Asia‘s YouTube channel!

Charles J Tan, Tenderfist, WSATCC and DLC to feature the Post-Midem Party in Paris

News, Shows

Jan 272012

Music Services Asia and Starclash Records present the Music Services Asia Post-Midem Party

For your delight, 3 of the best indie bands from South-East Asia will play along with DLC at Le Gambetta, Paris, after their stop at Midem, Cannes.

Line-up:
White Shoes and The Couples Company (indie pop, Indonesia)
Tenderfist (electro, Malaysia)
Charles J Tan (soul/folk, Australia/Singapore)
DLC (club/electronica/rock, France)

Date: February 1, 2012 (Tuesday)
From 8pm at Le Gambetta, 104 rue de Bagnolet, Paris 75020
Price: 3 euros

Prepare your ears to be blown away!

Streamjam to Broadcast First MSA Showcase at MIDEM: Jan. 31 from 6pm (SG time)

News, Shows

Jan 272012

The South-East Asian showcase by Music Services Asia will be streamed by the new StreamJam; the latest creation from the Emmy-award winning virtual reality junkies at The Electric Sheep Company. Fans and critics will soon be able to log in and rock out to their favourite international acts, virtually “attending” concerts through user-powered avatars. StreamJam’s debut at MIDEM 2012 is one of great anticipation, and will no doubt push the representation of South-East Asian feature artists throughout the duration of the concert, and beyond!

The Music Services Asia MIDEM showcase + mini interview session with each band will be broadcasted on Tuesday, Jan. 31 as follows:

Charles J Tan
Singapore: 6pm to 6:45pm
Australia: 9pm to 9:45pm

The Great Spy Experiment
Singapore: 6:45pm to 7:45pm

The Young Liars
Indonesia: 6:45pm to 7:45pm

Tenderfist
Malaysia: 8:45pm to 9:45pm

White Shoes and The Couples Company
Indonesia: 8:45pm to 9:45pm

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Charles J Tan

Singapore: 6pm to 6:45pm
Australia: 9pm to 9:45pm

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The Great Spy Experiment

Singapore: 6:45pm to 7:45pm

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The Young Liars

Indonesia: 6:45pm to 7:45pm

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Tenderfist

Malaysia: 8:45pm to 9:45pm

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White Shoes and The Couples Company

Indonesia: 8:45pm to 9:45pm

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To check out the entire live broadcast via Streamjam of the first ever Music Services Asia South-East Asian Showcase, see below!

South-East Asian MIDEM showcase to boost regional demographic

News, Shows

Jan 262012

On January 30 this year, things are set to change. MIDEM, the music conference that needs no introduction, and has been bringing music makers, brands, distribution specialists, journalists, labels and critics together from across the globe for 45 years, will debut an exclusive South-East Asian showcase event in 2012 – a move which has sparked global interest in the Asia Pacific’s thriving and eclectic music scene. In an effort to support misrepresented regions like South-East Asia (where, despite huge economic and population booms in recent years, MIDEM representation of the region has plateaued at 5% of all attendees), five bands from across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia will draw audiences from around the world to the Black Pearl; an official off-premise MIDEM venue in Cannes, France. Held annually, MIDEM supports music networking from around the globe, and the South- East Asian showcase (launching January 30th, 2012), and will see the performers rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the international music industry.

The Showcase lineup

The five featured acts, comprised of Charles J Tan (Australia/Singapore), White Shoes and The Couples Company (Indonesia), The Young Liars (Indonesia), Tenderfist (Malaysia) and The Great Spy Experiment (Singapore) bring with them a variety of unique aural eccentricities which, while encompassing a definitive, region-specific influence, are also relatable to audiences and critics on an international scale. Charles J Tan’s effortless blend of inventive beats and soulful, old-school melodies will lull audiences into a passionate embrace, while experimental trip-pop aficionados from Tenderfist ignite the senses with visceral breaks and hushed, ethereal vocals. White Shoes and The Couples Company, a crowd favourite, embrace the weird facets of modern glam-jazz, and The Great Spy Experiment commit to the impossible, crossing the cultural divide that defines Asian-influenced pop, while at the same time embracing the elements of mellow Western guitar jams that have launched many before them to superstardom. The last line-up addition is The Young Liars, displaying a fastpaced, supercharged and nosebleed rock!

19h – 19h40: Charles J Tan (Australia/Singapore)
20h – 20h40: Tenderfist (Malaysia)
21h – 21h40: The Great Spy Experiment (Singapore)
22h – 22h40: White Shoes and The Couples Company (Indonesia)
23h – 23:40: The Young Liars (Indonesia)

Venue: Black Pearl – 22 rue Macé, 06400 Cannes, France

StreamJam to stream the virtual concert

The South-East Asian showcase by Music Services Asia will be streamed by the new StreamJam; the latest creation from the Emmy-award winning virtual reality junkies at The Electric Sheep Company. Fans and critics will soon be able to log in and rock out to their favourite international acts, virtually “attending” concerts through user-powered avatars. StreamJam’s debut at MIDEM 2012 is one of great anticipation, and will no doubt push the representation of South-East Asian feature artists throughout the duration of the concert, and beyond!

Midem 2012 music compilation

The artists also feature on an exclusive MIDEM 2012 compilation release, which can be accessed online through Valleyarm and Music Services Asia in the lead up to the event (valleyarm.com/midem2012, apple.com/itunes).

Who are we?

Music Services Asia, along with Valleyarm Digital Pty Ltd, is the leading distributor of weekly news, reviews and interviews, as well as charts and digital content, from the Asia Pacific region and beyond. Their involvement in the SEA MIDEM Showcase series has been an integral part of the growing awareness of Asian music on a global scale. More on this, as well as features and interviews with the artists, can be found in Music Weekly: Music Services Asia’s soon-to-be-launched weekly publication, outlining the latest and greatest news from the region, or on the website (musicservices.asia).

Music Services Asia will be attending Midem 2012 at the Open Area, Medium Stand 07. Drop by anytime or set up an appointment: info@musicservices.asia.

S.A.M.E to bridge musical gap between Australian and Chinese musicians

News

Oct 272011

The longstanding gap between Chinese and Australian musicians will soon be bridged with the announcement that established Chinese indie acts Carsick Cars and Bone will be touring the eastern capitals of Australia this month. Stemming from the Sino Australian Music Exchange initiative (S.A.M.E, which began as a collaboration between DIY music specialists Tenzenmen and Sydney’s ‘Chalk Horse’ Gallery in 2010), the acts will be performing alongside established Australian bands, and other acts involved in Maybe Mars – an independent Chinese music label, launched in 2007.

Carsick Cars will be utilizing this connection to Internationally launch their latest album, “You can listen, you can talk,” which serves as a perfect follow-up to their former creations of fuzzy, fast-paced, punk-infused indie rock. The reception in captial cities such as Melbourne and Sydney is anticipated to be one of unprecedented success, as both contain a large student population of Chinese nationals, many of whom are familiar with both sides of the international music scene. Carsick Cars will be playing alongside established underground Australian acts Teenage Mothers, The Process and Hollow Everdaze, as well as in several solo shows, across October and November, 2011. Other Australian acts, such as the Vasco Era and The East Brunswick All Girls Choir, have toured nationally and internationally in 2011, and are profiled on the Sino Australian Music Exchange blog.

The move to strengthen the relationship between Chinese and Australian musicians comes as a result of an increased cultural secularity between the industries, as documented on several websites such as the S.A.M.E blog (supported by the Australian International Cultural Council), and Marginal Revoltion. Many factors, such as the language barrier that exists between Australians and much of the Asia Pacific, as well as the micro-tonal differences that operate between each music style, are often held to blame for the lack of relationship between each country’s independent music scene. Recently, however, many bands have begun to branch out, and initiatives such as S.A.M.E stand as a testament to the growing bond between the facets of the Asia Pacific Music Scene.

For more information on these tour dates visit our friends at Tenzenmen, or for further enquiries visit S.A.M.E. blog or Facebook page.

By Stephanie Winkler

HP to continue intimate music campaign, in support of Beats Audio

News

Oct 252011

There’s “walking the walk” and “talking the talk,” but now the bigwigs at Hewlett Packard have begun a more personal campaign of schmoozing in order to attract the biggest online Music clients in the industry. Launched last year as a means of spreading the latest news on HP products through Cyberspace, HP’s Music Influencer program is designed to integrate digital music and social media practitioners with the newest line of HP products – in a face-to-face, conference-style atmosphere. The program has been met with interest by those within both industries, and embraced by prolific social media bloggers such as Arjan Timmermans – owner and manager of power-blog, Arjanwrites.com.

The ARTIST#TALK program, a “listening party” held by HP where high profile musicians (such as the UK’s Tinie Tempah) and a specially selected audience of social media practitioners, bloggers, website owners or others with a formidably online presence, is a major step in extending the proverbial hand of HP to the international music industry. The program serves a duel function: to remove the wall between musicians and social media practitioners in a rapidly evolving industry, and to harness a new audience for their $300 million pet project, Beats Audio – HP’s exclusive audio editing and production software, which is available through HP and serves as an alternative to softwares such as Protools and Logic.

Of the change, HP anticipates a jump in social media statistics, which are currently measured by Klout – one of the world’s most recognized outlets for social media trends and analytics. The move will boost the international, online profile of HP’s music products, which have been completing on a global scale with technologies from major competitors such as Apple.

By Stephanie Winkler

Spotify and Beatport join hands in global distribution agreement

News

Oct 192011

Whoever thought of the fabled slogan “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” must be cashed up to the teeth these days, with many of the world’s top online streaming portals joining forces as a rapid pace.

Yesterday’s revelation that established electronica/beatmaking portal Beatport was to join hands with the incredibly popular streaming site Spotify marked a huge step in the distribution method of each organization. While Spotify has previously buddied up with iTunes and Rdio in the name of properly representing their associated artists and labels, it is this partnership with Beatport that will see a flock of new and untapped musicians delivered to them on a silver platter. In a similar vein, Beatport will finally begin to collect revenue from their services, which (while it could be accredited to riding Spotify’s coattails, just a little…) will result in the financial turnaround of one of the world’s most popular online DJ and beatmaking outlets.

It seems that, in place of good old rivalry and competition, many companies have decided that joining forces to attract the attention (and revenue) of a common target audience is probably their best bet. And, why not? It is becoming increasingly more difficult to make a scene in the intensifying global arena, and if building partnerships within a common field is the best way to provide a product to consumers, then so be it! Music Services Asia is the last to complain when it comes to new developments in the world of digital music distribution, and if this partnership is anything to go by (i.e. combining the extensive back-catalogue and chart system of Beatport’s electro library, with the insane usership and intimidating back-catalogue of Spotify), this is only the beginning – and, while both parties are still remaining hush-hush about the details, it goes unspoken that the best is yet to come.

By Stephanie Winkler