Having just returned from an extensive Christmas break, the Radar is happy to announce that we are off again for the Chinese New Year. We’ll be back better dragons than Rabbits.
春节快乐!!
Rumours, rumours…. C3 to bring Lollapalooza to China
Another year, another big Western company tries it hand at the crazy market that is China. Rumour has it (and this is completely unsubstantiated, but hey, we like to be first with the speculation) that C3, the company behind the American touring festival Lollapalooza and the more independently minded Austin City Limits is planning a festival in China this summer.
C3 recently invested in Australian touring behemoth Big Day Out and has been actively expanding in South America in recent years. It will be interesting to see how they fare in crazy town.
Posted in China Music Festivals
Tagged big day out, c3, China, lollapalooza, music festival
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Beijing Launches National Music Industry Base
by Ami Li
Hat tip to Twitter, Peter Schloss and Music Dish China for this. Following in the footsteps of Shanghai and Guangzhou, the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) has announced a Beijing chapter of the National Music Industry Base, which will
“Develop classic music and music with Chinese characteristics that cater for the demand of the international market, and forge a complete industrial chain. It aims to build a national music composition and production center, an international musical performance and consumption center, a national digital music production and dissemination center, a national music industry service center, as well as a national music copyright protection and trading center.”
Two things jump out to us immediately. One, the national music copyright protection and trading center. Good luck, guys? We’d be interested to see what kind of corporate tie-ins this new base has with the record labels and current popular (if less-than-legal) digital streaming platforms such as Xiami.
Two, the members of the Base include the 1919 Music and Culture Industry Base, Beijing Music Creative Industry Park, China Record Corporation’s music center, Tianqiao Performing Arts Park, China Music Valley, Xishan Cultural Creativity Avenue, and a digital music demonstration park. A quick glance at the names screams “government organisations” to us, with no private-sector participation. It remains an open question whether these government-backed entities will be able to compete or police the big private corporation players in the industry.
Xtep Music Marathon
China’s first music festival featuring marathon elements
Would that be the world’s first music festival with marathon elements? Chinese footwear and apparel brand Xtep organized this sports and music spectacular in Xiamen last weekend. It was in the Xiamen Conference and Exhibition Centre and featured UK rock band Young Guns, Beijing rock outfit Miserable Faith, Taiwan electro-punkers Go Chic, French electronic music producer Yuksek and Taiwan rock musician Chang Chen-yue.
You can check out the photos HERE.
Posted in brands, China Music Festivals, live music, midi festival
Tagged fuzhou, Midi, xiamen, xtep music marathon
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New Live House for Shanghai
WE ARE SO SORRY
Posting has been super super slack. The back end of last year = proper burnout for us and the Radar kinda fell to the bottom of the priority list. We love this site and there was lots of stuff to be posted, but there are also plenty of other sites doing a great job keeping us English speakers in the mix.
So, first thing, 新年快樂 2012
This one has been bubbling around for a while: Shanghai is getting another Live House. Hot on the heels of Shanhai, Putuo will now host a 1,500 capacity performance space, and a 500 capacity livehouse on the banks of Suzhou creek. It will be called the Qian Shui Wan Cultural Centre and you can find more details about it (in Chinese) HERE.
T›his one seems a lot more straight up and government led than the incumbents. It also looks like the hub of yet another real estate play, so how much underground music they will actually welcome will be the question.
Posted in china music, Chinese Bands, live music, venues
Tagged livehouse, putuo, Qian Shui Wan Cultural Centre, shanghai
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Jiangsu TV going large again
Last year, they spent squillions on Shakira for their December 31st gala show. This year, they are on it again.
Amongst the usual gaggle of Chinese stars, II Divo, Katy Perry, and a ‘female star who’s bigger than Katy Perry’ will all feature. Stage art will be provided by team members of Britain’s Got Talent. WTF is stage art and what kind of art will Britain’s Got Talent possibly come up with…?
Who’s excited?
Posted in china music, Media
Tagged Britain's got talent, China, gala, il divo, jiangsu television, katy perry, new years eve
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Touring China, metal style….
It’s been pretty quiet on the ‘Radar lately and for that, we apologize. Honestly, it’s been a hell of a year – we are busy, tired and there are lots of other sites out there doing a great job covering the scene here. We’ve got some bits and pieces that we really want to post, but they might have to wait until post Christmas holidays when we are recharged….
Anyway, Jin came across this recently. It’s a pretty awesome article on how to tour DIY style in China. Metal band Corrupt Absolute on their tours of non-Shanghai/ Beijing China and how to get the most out of it. As promoters here, we especially like the very logical attitude to customs: wear dreads and long hair under hats, be subtle with guitars and merch and you shouldn’t have a problem.
And hey, we’ve never heard of Lingdu. Respect \m/
Posted in china music, International Artists, live music, Western Bands
Tagged corrupt absolute, lingdu, metal, touring china
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Little Dragon Tales
Little Dragon Tales is a great little project, a collection of 12 classic Chinese Children’s songs with a modern twist. Produced by the electronic music group The Shanghai Restoration Project, the album features the voices of the Yip’s Canada Children’s Choir. In partnership with Cheng & Tsui Company and IODA, the album was released this week. You can hear samples of all of this on Amazon. Go buy 
Midi Awards again
It’s that time of the year again. Midi have announced the nominations for their 3rd annual music awards.
We’ve argued on this here rant-box in previous years that, while awards ceremonies themselves have a place in any music scene, the Midi Awards shoot themselves in the foot every year by viewing the Chinese music scene through a fairly narrow prism. It seems strange to us that there are no bands from either the Modern Sky or Maybe Mars rosters. Miserable Faith are back though
That said, it’s great that someone is putting the effort into giving benchmarks to Chinese music lovers. Go and support….
Posted in china music, midi festival, modern sky
Tagged Beijing, midi music awards, midi music school, miserable faith, rock
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India’s got talent
A nice spot from our resident reality TV expert Jeremy: the insanity that is India’s Got Talent
Make sure you watch to the end
Posted in Random
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