Boyce Avenue
This month, music fans will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with some YouTube breakout stars at a special event organised as part of this year's Digital & Music Matters conference.
Online stars such as Japanese- American comedian Ryan Higa, American singer-songwriter David Choi, Filipino-American guitarist Joseph Vincent, American alternative rock band Boyce Avenue and English electro-pop singer Little Boots are among 20 acts who will be taking part in YouTube FanFest on May 20 and 21.
Each participating YouTube act has videos garnering millions of views and a subscriber base of between tens of thousands and close to a million people.
The FanFest, supported by technology company Hewlett-Packard, will feature live performances, with some acts to debut new material at the two-day event. Fans can also chat with their idols in meet-and-greet sessions.
The organiser for Digital & Music Matters, media and entertainment brand marketing agency Branded Ltd, says there will be 1,400 tickets available for the YouTube FanFest, on sale at www.youtube.com/fanfest. A one-day pass costs $88 and a two-day pass costs $150.
Little Boots
YouTube FanFest kicks off the week-long Digital & Music Matters 2013, an annual trade event that promotes the business of digital and live entertainment through workshops and talks.
The event, which runs from May 20 to 24 and is estimated to cost in the millions, is supported by partners including the Singapore Tourism Board, Media Development Authority of Singapore and Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.
This will be the third consecutive time that Digital & Music Matters, now in its eighth year, will be hosted in Singapore. Last year, the conference, which featured speakers such as Lady Gaga's manager Troy Carter, drew more than 1,200 participants.
Joseph Vincent
This year, Digital & Music Matters is bringing in guest speakers such as Mr Johnny Wright, manager of pop star Justin Timberlake, Mr Rob Wells, Universal Music Group International's president for global digital business, and Mr Axel Dauchez, chief executive officer of Deezer, one of the leading sites for online streamed music.
They will cover a range of topics, including ticketing prices for live entertainment and how artists can use social media to their advantage.
In conjunction with the trade conference, a three-day live music festival will take place at various venues at Clarke Quay from May 22 to 24.
Music Matters Live, which is a free event, will feature more than 50 bands from 20 countries, including home-grown acts such as Electrico and The Observatory.
Mr Jasper Donat, president of Digital & Music Matters and chief executive of Branded Ltd, says: "We want to help create new stars by supporting up-and-coming artists and the independent music community."
This year, budding local artists can also look forward to two days of mentoring sessions and workshops at a newly formed Music Matters Academy set up this year. Members of the year-old Singapore Music Society will be taking part in the programme.
Says the vice-president of the society, Mr Mohamed Shahid Isahak, better known as Syaheed: "The mentorship programme has taken on a more formal structure this time around."
Those interested to register for the event can do so at www.allthatmatters.asia. Admission fees for the event range between US$450 (S$555) and US$999.
YOUTUBE FANFEST
When: May 20 and 21, 7 to 10pm
Where: The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore
Admission: $88 (one-day pass) and $150 (two-day pass)
Info: Tickets go on sale at www.youtube.com/fanfest
This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on May 1, 2013. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.
All photos courtesy of ST Photos