Last month, venerable UK based industry publication IQ Magazine interview us for the second time. You can read the published article here:
If you’d like to read a bit more about our views, the whole interview is below:
I’m writing a story for IQ about the Chinese post-Olympics concert market, focusing on whether there are more opportunities for foreign acts to tour this potentially huge market?
There are always opportunities, but it is very much up to Western agents and managers to understand that this is a market that needs investing in. The same way that companies from Coca Cola to Carrefour to Levis to Nokia have all invested gargantuan sums in an attempt to change Chinese consumption habits, so bands, managers, agents, promoters all have to do the same. Currently, the Chinese mainstream is still completely dominated by Mandarin language pop (beyond that, they prefer other Asian artists to Western), but there is a whole new generation growing up with a whole new understanding of the world. I visit Japan 2-3 times a year and I see great similarities between the way both countries enjoy their music. It’s about being in the know, being fashionable and we are working hard to make this a reality for Western bands here. We are still a few years off China as a regular and genuine touring destination, but it will happen sooner rather than later
Have the repercussions from the Bjork/Tibet incident died down?
Largely, yes, although it is much more bureaucratic now to get licenses, and unlicensed shows are being stopped more frequently. A year ago, foreign artists (small) could come in and play at any number of little venues on a tourist Visa. This is very risky now.
For the larger shows, potential punishments are much greater, and license applications are scrutinized much harder (before Bjork, licenses that were properly applied for were nearly always awarded)
and what further growth can we expect in the Chinese touring market?
The appetite of the two big players has certainly receded a bit. Both Ticketmaster (nee Emma) is undergoing a big shakeup having lost on nearly every show over the last 12 months and China West/ Livenation have both lost big on this month’s Kanye and Kylie shows. Having said that, AEG will be coming into the market strongly in 2009.
As for the “below-arena” sized touring circuit, it continues to be unprofitable, but there are lots of enthusiast working valiantly to put a floor under the industry here
The only other specific questions I’d like to ask you are whether government censorship/regulation of China tours by overseas acts has slackened off since the Olympics?
It was pretty much impossible to get a license from March – September. Licensing is now possible again, but more difficult (see above)
and what acts you’re planning to bring to China in the near future?
December: Jens Lekman
January: Mogwai, Future of the Left, South Rakkas Crew
February: CSS (pending), Jose Gonzalez
March: Battles (pending)