THE Asean Music Showcase Festival (AMS) is returning for its second edition this September despite setbacks brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
With two more countries taking part in the upcoming AMS, the event will expand the initiative to help artists remain connected with their fanbase and gain exposure to new audiences.
The event's organiser said the festival will premiere on September 11 and 12, via YouTube, while the line-up of musicians will be announced soon.
Aside from live performances aired virtually, the AMS will also feature online private meetings that provide networking opportunities between up-and-coming regional musicians and global music industry professionals on September 13.
AMS co-founder Piyapong ‘Py’ Muenprasertdee, said the participating organisers of each country aim to help regional artists be proactive and promote them to potential talent buyers from around the world.
“Because of the pandemic, many showcase festivals around the world are going online, which means artists don't need to spend money on travel and accommodation to join. Consequently, international music professionals and talent buyers need to hop on this virtual online landscape as well – opening the door of opportunity to more export-worthy artists,” he said in a statement.
Py, who is also director of Educational, Governmental, and Overseas Partnership of Bangkok-based music company Fungjai, said the event would proceed as planned in September instead of waiting for the pandemic to end.
“We were conceived during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, so we weren't able to organise the showcase festival physically and were naturally forced to organise it virtually,” Py explains.
“However, we do hope to organise it physically and rotate the host country each year after the pandemic is over.”
With live music and entertainment being among the hardest hit industries globally, AMS is looking to offer an alternative-but-viable platform that connects global music networks to the Southeast Asian region.
This year's AMS will see the participants from Cambodia and Vietnam take part, aside from co-organising countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
The event is organised by private music and entertainment outfits Fungjai, Nylon Thailand, and Bangkok Music City from Thailand; The Rest Is Noise PH from the Philippines; Steady State Records from Singapore; SRM from Indonesia; City Roars Festival from Malaysia; Baramey Production from Cambodia; and Monsoon Music Festival and Swan Zoo from Vietnam.
This year’s edition is also co-presented by Malaysia’s Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana), the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and US-based music distribution licensing, and publishing company TuneCore.
AMS is also supported by Music Copyright (Thailand) Ltd (MCT) and festival partners Golden Melody Awards & Festival and LUCfest in Taiwan, as well as Global Toronto in Canada and Live at Heart in Sweden.
For more information about the second edition of AMS, visit the official website. – The Vibes, July 25, 2021
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