The concert conundrum: Why foreign singers prefer Singapore over Malaysia
The disappointment of Malaysians fans has been palpable as popular international artists, Taylor Swift adds international tour dates in Singapore but exclude Malaysia from their itineraries. To the dismay of swifties in Malaysia, Taylor Swift is set to perform in Singapore for a whopping three days. Many Malaysians did not take the announcement well, with a lot of people expressing their take on social media about Malaysia not being included in the tour.
Singapore seems to be overshadowing us in terms of appeal for foreign artists. The pattern started with Coldplay, a British rock band who performed for one night in Kuala Lumpur but had six nights in Singapore, despite many Malaysians appealed to the band on social media to add more nights here. Their plea is in vain and many felt like it was a slap to the face for Malaysia.
The inclination towards Singapore as the preferred destination raises questions about why they don't view Kuala Lumpur in the same light as our neighbouring country. While the reasons behind Taylor Swift and Coldplay's exclusion of Malaysia may vary, the challenges mentioned earlier, such as infrastructure limitations and regulatory barriers, likely play a role. These challenges pose logistical difficulties and deter artists as well as event organisers from including Malaysia in their concert tours.
One of the most apparent reasons in politics. When Prime Minister Datum Seri Anwar Ibrahim welcomed Coldplay to Malaysia after they announced they concert date on social media, the opposition party PAS strong criticised the band's performance here. It has stirred heated debate online, with many criticising Mr Nasrudin Hassan, PAS leader who claimed that the Coldplay concert will promote a culture of hedonism and perversion in this country. They seized upon Coldplay's support for LGBTQ+ rights and argued against encouraging such behaviour in Malaysia.
On the other hand, Singapore's regulatory environment is often seen as more straightforward and predictable compared to Malaysia. Foreign artist and even organisers may find it easier to navigate the necessary permits, licenses, and other legal requirements in Singapore. This streamlined process allows for smoother planning and execution of concerts. Malaysia's political climate and social debates, including conservative viewpoints, may raise concerns for some artists, particularly if their performances or content touch upon sensitive topics.
Singapore's smaller population and higher per capita income also make it an appealing market for artists seeking profitability, despite Malaysia boasts a larger population and offering a potential larger fan base for artists. The perceptions that Singaporeans are more willing to spend on concerts, tickets, and merchandise creates a compelling business case for artists.
In the future, Malaysia would boast state-of-the-art concert venues and facilities that rival the best in the world by upgrading the Bukit Jalil National Stadium as well as building more stadiums across the country. These venues would feature top-notch acoustics and cutting-edge technology such as Virtual and Augmented Reality (AR/VR) where concertgoers could wear VR headsets to create personalised, immersive experiences. In this future vision, Malaysia would become a thriving concert destination, renowned for its world-class infrastructure and vibrant music ecosystem. International artists would flock to Malaysia, recognising the country as a place where they can forge deep connections with a passionate and diverse fan base.
To bridge the gap between the current situation and the future vision, government should strengthen international collaborations with concert promoters, event organisers as well as the stakeholders of entertainment industry. They should engage with global networks and platform to showcase Malaysia's potential as a concert destination. With the advancement in technology, the concerts can be held in a holographic platform such as projecting live performances of international artist in various locations across Malaysia. This will allow fans to experience virtual concerts without the fuss of traveling.
With a hint of humour, event organisers can invite fans to compete for the opportunity to open for international artists during concerts but they must sing in funny or off-key renditions of the artist's songs. This will create a unique concert experience in Malaysia that distinguish itself from other neighbouring countries.
Reflection: If the shows were held in Malaysia, they could have generated millions of ringgit in revenue for local businesses. Malaysia has missed out on the opportunities to showcase itself as a culturally rich and demographically diverse nation.
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