GEORGE TOWN – Music practitioners have long looked forward to earning a decent income again by getting to perform in front of live audiences, but the situation in Penang does not seem to be as thriving as they had wished after the restrictions were lifted a few months ago.
The pandemic cannot continue to be the reason for the stagnant condition of the commercial music industry in Penang. As the fog clears, it seems like a major problem in this regard is the lack of appreciation for the music scene.
Business owner and guitarist Bowie Ong told The Vibes that an actual music industry does not actually exist in Penang, though there is a market for live gigs at pubs, cafes and events.
These live gigs are just a small segment of the music industry. And nowadays F&B owners are considering not hiring live bands because they see that people generally don’t appreciate them.”
Singer and music teacher, Jingle Teh said most musicians are getting lower pay than before the pandemic.
“Some musicians are willing to get less just to get more gigs.
“As for the business owners, they tell musicians that they are still reeling from their loss during the pandemic,” she said.
Music producer and guitarist, Kelvyn Yeang said that although musicians have every right to price themselves according to how they feel is fair, whether a venue can afford them is another thing.
“When live music was reintroduced last November (2021), venues had to adhere to strict occupancy and operating time limitations.
“That makes it very hard to hire musicians and justify the sales simultaneously,” Yeang said.
“Musicians can decline jobs if they so choose. Economically, the odds are against most music makers until the general spending power increases.
The musicians themselves need to be realistic and wise to know what they can bring to the table.”
Founder of UAH Music Culture, Ang Eng Bok, told The Vibes that live music at outlets is slowly coming back, but indie music is still sluggish.
However, he is looking forward to help revive it by organising the UAH Music Festival live and physical in October this year, as opposed to having been staged online during the lockdown before. – The Vibes, June 6, 2022
