As we’ve previously noted, Music Matters has moved from Hong Kong to Singapore. Last week, they held a press conference in their new home city, featuring Jasper Donat (Founder of MM), Sandy Montiero (President of Universal Music Group SE Asia), Robin Seow (VP of Marketing at HP) and Lynette Pang representing the Singapore Tourist Board.
Essentially, the press conference concentrated on the Live component, Music Matters Live, which had an inaugural year in Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong in 2010. As a part of the new format, Music Matters Live will be concentrated in Clarke Quay, the new-ish F&B and entertainment centre in the middle of Singapore. The lineup will contain 40 artists from around the world. Converse are sponsoring a Beijing panel at the conference itself and also seem to have a hand in the China live programming, with Carsick Cars, Re-Tros and AV Okubo making the trip to Singapore. Of the other bands from around the world, we have to admit we haven’t heard of too many of them, but that is the point of these kind of showcases – to expose up-and-coming bands to both new audiences and to the industry. We were critical for the last few years about the lack of music featured as well as the poor conditions for showcasing in LKF. Branded seem to have taken this to heart with this massively improved offering in 2011.
We will be in Singapore next week. Please let us know if you would like to meet.