Beijing’s old (expat) guard moves out

Veteran Beijing music scene stalwarts Matt Kagler of Tag Team Records, and Jon Campbell of YGTwo will be moving out of the city

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Change is in this most frigid of air. Some stalwarts of Beijing’s indie music scene have hung up their boots and move onto pastures more lucrative, we strongly imagine. It’s a reflection of the lack of ability of anyone to actual make a full time living, however humble, out of China’s music industry.

Matt Kagler of Tag Team Records

Matt Kagler of Tag Team Records

Matt shuttered Tag Team Records earlier this year. Known for a somewhat biting sense of humour (“going out of business since ’05” as a description of his business being a notable example), affected fop of red hair, and amusing piss-take podcasts (Pissing on the Bamboo Curtain – you can revisit those HERE), Kagler was one of the first in. Since 2005, Tag Team has been representing some of Beijing’s best bands, including Re-Tros, Random K(e) and Arrows Made of Desire.

Jon Campbell of YGTwo

Jon Campbell with Stock the Crew

Jon has been in Beijing since the turn of the millennium, working as a drummer, promoter, tour manager, festival director, journalist and pretty much filling every function of a working music industry. He has been instrumental in developing bands, particularly the Subs, who he took on a European tour in 2006, blogging about it at Pop Matters. He is heading back to Canada, where he will finish his much anticipated book on Chinese Rock.

There was a big farewell to Jon last weekend in 2Kolegas which you can read more about HERE.

Beijing is losing two great contributors to the scene there. We will miss them…

[ps. has anyone seen or heard from Pete DeMola of We Live In Beijing? We read on Beijing Daze that he has gone AWOL and sure enough, we haven’t been able to track him down.]

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