((I0 HONG KONG LIMITED -RELEASE STRATEGY much better and bigger. Un- Continued from page 53 ()11c of the wain problems a few fortunately, there is very little sup- :45-12 I Programming years ago was getting the licensing port for Japanese pop in Hong Up out help from cover versions -and deals from Japan. A loophole in Kong from local suppliers unless building a niche following despite Taiwanese copyright laws meant the artist is big," says a spokesper- Q the language barriers. that counterfeiters could get away son for the retailer. "We have Record -label executives have with pirating Japanese albums if the exhausted all avenues to get greater credited much of the growing albums weren't released in Taiwan support for more Japanese titles. attention to the availability and within the one -month window. even going as far as involving HMS popularity of Japanese drama series "But Japanese record labels are Japan in negotiating with suppliers and movies that star or feature reluctant to allow the release of al- directly in Japan. But there seems China Downloads, songs from Japanese pop idols such bums within the one -month win- to be little progress." as SMAP's Takuya Kimura ( "Long dow because records are much Toward that end, Warner Music Vacation ") and rockers Luna Sea cheaper in Taiwan and they feared and BMG Asia have set up new ( "Another Heaven "). parallel imports would affect sales," departments based in Tokyo, ded- India Goes Latin, "Greater China has always been says Tan. icated to the promotion of J -pop influenced by Japan, especially Working with lawyers and Avex in the Asia Pacific region. Taiwan. The reason that Japanese Trax's head office, Tan came up with "Obviously, we see the growth Singapore Surfs Web artists can break in the market is a the idea of having a limited release and the potential [of J -pop], and we direct influence from the Japanese of 500 copies to lay claim to the copy- have to address it," says Frances television dramas," says Garand Georgeson, VP of marketing at Wu, senior marketing manager, BMG Asia, which has seen News In Review promote both old and new artists international, at EMI Music Asia. encouraging success with R &B through TV drama soundtracks. One of "Starting from the days of Chage artist Misia and girl group Morn- MP3'S IN CHINA are all the rage nowadays. Korea's biggest record companies, &: Aska, Dreams Come True and ing Must' me recently. MP3s of domestic bands are increasingly Yedang Entertainment, recently signed Luna Sea, most of it can be tied to available on the Internet, giving fans a an exclusive contract with Munhwa these Japanese series. That has PROVING MARKET'S new freedom to engage in "self - Broadcasting Company (MBC), a major helped the popularity of the J -pop EXISTENCE programming," as 21- year-old "Web TV station, to release MBC's drama genre, and it is a trend that I see Like the other record compa- addict" Zhou Wei puts it. Sites like soundtracks. growing in the future," says Wu. nies, BMG still faces problems in Shanghai's Xiandai Bianzou and Modern In Utada's case, for instance, getting J -pop artists to take Asia as Variation are dedicated to offering a com- 11111111111INIMPIIMA1111111 trends are usual- album sales were obviously helped a serious market, says Georgeson. bination of local and foreign music. ly restricted by the mass appeal of Indian by her third single, "First Love," "It's going to be a long process of Unsigned local bands, such as Godot, film soundtracks and local pop, MN India which was the main theme fbr education. We have to prove to Dead Poets' Society, Crystal Butterfly and is offering an aftemative in its new show popular television drama "Majo them that there is a market and Prague Spring release songs on an online "Olé MTV" Primarily a dance show with No Joken (To Be A Witch)." that we can actually sell those fig- MP3 compilation CD, "Underground heavy Latino leanings, "Olé MTV" only ures, People like Utada are paving Shanghai Music." Foreign bands such as reconfirms that Latin music is truly a glob- MARKETING STILL A FACTOR the way, and we are in contact with Birthday Party, 45 Grave and Gang Of al phenomenon. "The Latino trend is In Hong Kong and Taiwan, as our Japanese colleagues, and they Four are also exposed to fans through this sweeping the world and "Olé MTV" show- well as in countries such as are aware of it," she says. site. Modern Sky Records also uses cases this popular trend by presenting the Singapore, Japanese TV series have One of the markets that George - MP3s of its bands as a supplement to tra- passion and attitude of Latino music with become primetime fodder on local son is eyeing is Korea. With the lift- ditional radio programming, which in some rocking dance moves," says stations, a factor that has lifted the ing of any remaining restrictions on China is still dominated by syrupy Hong Natasha Malhotra, VP and executive pro- ,J -pop culture into the mainstream. Japanese pop culture-which in- Kong and Taiwanese pop music. ducer of MN India. It is a far cry from five years ago cludes everything from anime to Hardcore fan Ding Wei often spends Sponsored by Santiago when independent label Avex Trax movies to pop performances-and hours downloading MP3s from such Rum, "Olé MN" airs as decided to market J -pop on a main- Ayumi Hamasa given the fascination among Koreans Chinese Web sites and is always on the a vignette twice a day, stream scale. "There was always a with Japanese culture, the country lookout for new, previously unreleased at 7:00 pm and 11:00 market for J -pop, but it was more of represents huge potential for J -pop. songs. MP3 releases are most significant pm and is hosted by VJ an underground scene," says Avex right and then having a regional "Obviously, in the long -term, that as a means of getting around ossified Maria, herself an ac- Asia's general manager Holly Tan. release after the one month. Since is the market to be looking at, but publishing regulations that continue to complished dancer. The "It was difficult to get licensing then, Avex has seen artists such as we've also been seeing some action govern official releases of Chinese music, show's playlist features deals from the Japanese companies, Namie Amuro, the now -disbanded in China as well," adds Georgeson. and, as Internet use mushrooms in the MN's Latino pick of which meant that products weren't Speed and, lately, Ayumi Hamasaki For EMI's Wu, Utada's sales suc- PRC, MP3 popularity is likely to grow as the week and includes talent ranging out on the open market. So it really gain popularity in the region. cess in mainland China is a matter well. Xiandai Bianzou can be accessed at from Los Lobos to sounds from the isn't a phenomenon that has grown "What we've done in Taiwan, of great encouragement. "Even http://202.106.168. 78 /-- bunnyman Caribbean or Bryan Adams' flamenco - in the past year." we've done in Singapore and we'll though piracy has [inflicted] incred- while Modern Sky Records is on the Web inspired "Have You Ever Loved A While Tan agrees that some of the be doing in Malaysia. Things are ible damage to all the labels, `First at www/modernsky. com. Woman," explains Malhotra. credit for the seeming J -pop "explo- changing," says Tan, who is predict- Love' still managed to sell 200,000 One of the main things lacking in Hong sion" should go toward the exposure ing that Hamasaki will be a major legitimate copies," he says. Kong is the availability of airplay for III INI(RNE1-IAIEI Philippine label N/A brought by television series, movies name in the genre. Wu only sees the demand for J- international repertoire on local radio Records has struck a deal earlier this and commercials, he says marketing pop rising in the future, and a new stations. Most stations provide for only year with online music retailer efforts should not be ignored. Avex's LUCKY VIDEOS name he hopes EMI will be able to one or two programs dedicated to inter- Soundbuzz.com, headquartered in l'RF- headed by J -pop meister Some of the changes that record launch region -wide is that of anoth- national repertoire. HMV decided to set Singapore, to have its music available Tetsuyo Komuro -was one of the labels are looking forward to are er singer -songwriter: Shena Ringo. things right for themselves in 1998 by for download. According to Sonia Lazo, first J -pop bandÑ to break in Taiwan more active participation from "In Asia, the idol system is still setting up its own "radio station" and Soundbuzz.com's Philippines country and Hong Kong without the help of Japanese artists in promotional strong, but with J -pop there is more hiring freelance DJs to spin everything manager, tracks available from N/A as an cover versions- largely due to activities in the region. Record com- focus on talent. The acceptance ofJ- from local to international repertoire and MP3 download include "U &I" from the sound strategic marketing, says Tan. panies have found it difficult to lure pop in recent times shows that the then having the broadcast piped into all album "Rippingyarns" by folk/rock "The Southeast Asian J -pop Japanese artists to Asia for promo- Asian market is getting more its stores in Hong Kong.