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Music & Entertainment Industry Steps Up and Readies Itself for the Boom

– Industry to grow by 30% within next three years

Singapore, 12 July 2007 -- The property sector is not the only one going through a boom in Singapore. The music and entertainment (M&E) industry is experiencing a boost as well and is expected to grow by 30 percent within the next three years.

This prediction is made by a team of industry experts involved in the inaugural PALME Asia Music & Entertainment Festival, held in conjunction with PALME Asia 2007 Exhibition, the region’s premier Pro Audio Light & Music Entertainment exhibition taking place at Singapore Expo from 12 to 14 July. For the first time in this region, PALME Asia will also feature Events 360 Asia alongside Install Asia.

Rosalind Ng, Managing Director (Asia), IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd (organiser of the exhibition and festival), said: “There are numerous key developments taking place in the region and especially Singapore. We have the Singapore Flyer and the Singapore Grand Prix next year, The Marina Bay Sands™ Integrated Resort opening in late 2009, the Resorts World at Sentosa Integrated Resort opening in 2010, and other major projects like the Sports Hub, Gardens by the Bay, and the new National Arts Gallery. They will all need support from the events as well as the music and entertainment sectors to offer a complete experience to consumers and visitors.”

Mr Johnny Ong, Director, UnUsUal Productions, added: “The two integrated resorts are definitely the key catalysts . With all the developments rolling out over the next three years, the industry has some lead-time to respond correspondingly but with urgency. We need to develop talents, both performing artists as well as those working behind the scenes – show producers, lighting and sound experts just to name a few. We are looking at the music and entertainment industry growing at least 20 to 30 percent by 2010.”

More International Acts and an Improved Local Talent Pool

Having been in the industry for over 20 years, Nigel Mosbergen, Project Director, Encore, observed: “There are more and more international performances making their way to Singapore. The country has the best and friendliest licensing regulation in the region. While neighbouring countries have curtailed entertainment hours, Singapore has extended it.”

Mosbergen estimates that currently, 50 percent of concert goers for non-Asian language performances are foreigners (the bulk from the expatriate community) with Singaporeans making up the remaining 50 percent. While the ratio is likely to remain the same, there is room for more international performances and a higher attendance, with more regional tourists factoring performances into their itinerary .

He added: “The younger generation are exposed to a wider range of music choices and are more affluent. They see value in watching an international performance and are willing to pay for prime seats. They also hold a different mindset from the older generation and see a career in music and entertainment as a viable option.”

Transformation Starts Now

The biggest transformations are expected from now till 2012. The music and entertainment industry has passed the infant stage and will mature in tandem with market developments.

Michael Ma, IndoChine Group CEO, said, “IndoChine has been hosting musical and entertainment acts and even international DJ events for the past few years. With the onset of the F1 race and other developments, this will stir up more excitement and increase the options to have a great night out, with a smorgasbord of entertainment choices. We have to keep evolving to bring in new elements into the industry.”

‘Live’ music and entertainment (as we traditionally know it) has already made a comeback and at times with digital elements. There are more and more venues offering ‘live’ performances with at least 15 in the Clarke Quay area alone. With the integrated resorts, there will be a demand for more top class quality performances .

The PALME Asia M&E Festival is a call to the industry to step up to the challenge, embrace the growth opportunities and celebrate achievements. Like the growth path ahead, the inaugural festival will start at a modest pace – there will be a total of five acts taking place at Bar CoCoon, The Forbidden City at Clarke Quay from 12 to 14 July 2007. The plan is to have 30 acts in ten venues next year.

Rosalind Ng added: “In an interview with BBC, Minister Mentor Goh Chok Tong said ‘we might be more liberal – in terms of the arts, in terms of the kinds of entertainment you can get in Singapore’ and not only is this initiative – the festival – in sync with his comment, it will have a true impact on the industry’s growth. Macau, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, West End London and Broadway, watch out for this little Red Dot!”

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About PALME Asia 2007 / IIR Exhibitions:
About PALME Asia 2007

PALME Asia, formerly known as Pala, is now in its 19th year and is the largest event in Asia for pro audio, light, music and entertainment technology. PALME Asia is a unique platform for major international manufacturers, key regional suppliers, installers and integrators for the professional entertainment, events and project installation industries.

Aside from the core pro audio and light sector, PALME Asia now incorporates Install Asia and Event 360, both new sectors for 2007. Install Asia features AV installation & integration technologies and applications for residential and commercial projects in S.E. Asia, whilst Event 360 features technologies, products and services used in the event and entertainment industries.
About PALME Asia Music & Entertainment Festival

About PALME Asia Music & Entertainment Festival

PALME Asia Music & Entertainment Festival is a three-day event featuring top international and local acts, singers, bands and DJs. It is held in conjunction with PALME Asia 2007 Exhibition from 12 to 14 July.

Programme for the inaugural festival is as follows:
• 12 July (Thursday) – Nana & The Vibes (Singapore); Nimitta featuring Maia Lee (Singapore); and DaWap (America)
• 13 July (Friday) – Nana & The Vibes (Singapore); DaWap (America); Tom Rust (UK); BlueJade (UK); and Nimitta featuring Maia Lee (Singapore)
• 14 July (Saturday) – Nana & Talib (Singapore); Blue Jade (UK); and Nimitta featuring Maia Lee (Singapore)

IndoChine’s eminent resident DJs – DJ Muddy, DJ Rob Moss, DJ Yen and DJ Rico – will be spinning the finest tunes on all three days as well.

Event : PALME Asia Music & Entertainment Festival
Venue : Bar CoCoon, The Forbidden City at Clarke Quay
(Address: 3A Merchant’s Court, Clarke Quay, River Valley Road, #01-02, Singapore)
Dates : 12 to 14 July 2007 (Thursday to Saturday)
Time : 8 pm till late
Organiser : IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd
Co-Organiser : IndoChine
Website : http://www.palme-asia.com

Media Contacts:
Greg TING Wee Liang
HP: +65 9791 7870
Email:

Footnotes:
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Note To Editors:
- The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) expects visitor arrivals to reach 13 million to 14 million, and their average length of stay to increase from the current 3.4 days to 3.6 days in 2010, after the two integrated resorts are opened. The average number of visitors in Singapore at any one time is expected to increase from the current 90,000 to 140,000, a 55 percent increase.
- STB targets to attract 17 million visitors and S$30 billion in tourism receipts by the year 2015.
- Singapore was recently ranked second in the world for nightlife and dining by over 1,500 jet-setting tourists and travel industry experts worldwide in the Global Country Brand Index study, conducted by FutureBrand and Weber Shandwick.

Disclaimer:
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Submitted by Greg Ting on Thursday, 12 July 2007 at 10:35 AM
Category: Arts & Entertainment