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Why Southeast Asia a Hotspot for Music Trends & Festivals

Why Choose SEA. Music Press Asia

Southeast Asia is a region that encompasses eleven countries and hundreds of ethnic groups, each with its own musical traditions and styles. This part of the world also houses the ASEAN nations of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. But in recent years, the region has also become a hotspot for music trends and festivals, attracting both local and international artists and fans.

One of the factors that contributes to the region’s musical diversity and dynamism is the concept of “trigger cities”, or in other terms the cities that have a healthy, youthful ability to attract visitors and have proved in the past great teasers for amateur and executive travelers to the area.

According to Chaz Jenkins, a music industry expert, trigger cities are urban centers in Latin America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia that have a high demand for streaming music and influence the global algorithms of platforms like Spotify and Apple Music². By listening to and sharing songs from different genres and regions, these trigger cities can help boost the popularity and visibility of emerging artists and tracks worldwide.

Monica Tong, editor-in-chief at Music Press Asia, commented: “I have been attending live music in London since the day when Amy Winehouse was still living in Camden, London. And after 9 years there, I moved back to Southeast Asia in 2014 to find a vibrant live music environment. Southeast Asia is a thriving area in music and entertainment.”


Editor’s choice of events to attend in 2024
[Editor’s choice of events to attend in 2024]

The Great Cities of Southeast Asia

Some of the trigger cities in Southeast Asia include Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore². These cities have a large and young population that are avid consumers of pop music, especially from Western, Korean, and Japanese sources. They also have a vibrant local music scene that showcases a variety of genres, such as indie rock, hip hop, EDM, folk, and more.

Another factor that makes Southeast Asia a hotspot for music trends and festivals is the availability of venues and events that cater to different musical tastes and preferences. From intimate clubs and bars to massive stadiums and arenas, there is no shortage of places to enjoy live music in the region. And with the easing of pandemic restrictions and the opening of borders, more festivals and concerts are being planned and announced for 2023.


Festival Listing Ad. Music Press Asia

The Economics of Live Music Venues

A pure example is Zepp’s very own venue at a newly opened mall in the city center of Kuala Lumpur. Located at LaLaport Bukit Bintang, this venue attracts popular culture from KCON enthusiasts to J-pop music lovers. Zepp’s very own findings give them great confidence when it comes to expanding market in being both a venue and promoter for its talent agency that provides internationally renown live shows.

“Kuala Lumpur is an incredible city to live in today. With such a diverse demand for alternative pop culture, we are definitely spoiled for choice. Merging local traditions and cultures, its music creatives have great potential to be in-demand creatively in the future. With more live venues open for business in 2023 alone, there are much to explore and create still,” Monica Tong added.

In 2022 alone, some of the largest festivals and concerts in Southeast Asia in 2022 include POW Fest 6 in Bangkok (Thailand), Malaya Music Fest in Manila (Philippines), We The Fest and 88rising’s Head In The Clouds both in Jakarta (Indonesia), Creamfields in Bangkok (Thailand).

Others include The Rainforest World Music Festival, The Hong Kong Arts Festival and many more to mention.

Creative Diversity in Southeast Asia

With so much musical diversity and excitement happening in Southeast Asia and its about 675 million population and representing 8.5% of the world’s population3, it is no wonder that the region is becoming a hotspot for music trends and festivals. Whether you are a fan of classical or rock or EDM or anything in between, you are sure to find something that suits your taste and mood in this region. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience some of the best music events in Southeast Asia in 2023!

At Music Press Asia, we continue to follow the popular culture in Southeast Asia and in comparison to the global influence within the music industry. From the diversity and richness of traditional folk music in Southeast Asia to the developments of Bollywood music and cinema to the role of manga and anime in shaping contemporary Japanese identity and aesthetics. And from the emergence and evolution of street art and graffiti in Asian cities to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and indigenous art forms in Asiatic of Southeast Asia, this part of Asia is electrifying.

If you have an upcoming music or live event in 2023, please send us details or press release to editorial@musicpressasia.com.


This is an edited conversation with Bing. Source are listed below:

(1) These Music Cities Trigger Streaming Growth in Southeast Asia. https://blog.chartmetric.com/music-trigger-cities-focus-on-southeast-asia-part-2/.

(2) Here are the biggest concerts and music festivals to catch in Southeast …. https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/2022-live-music-festivals-concerts-singapore-malaysia-indonesia-philippines-southeast-asia-3190190.

(3) Southeast Asia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia

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