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The first working days of a new year often arrive quietly. Desks are cleared, inboxes refill, and the cultural machinery begins moving again. In music and the arts, this moment is usually followed by a familiar rush: predictions, trend lists, announcements, and declarations of what this year is supposed to become. At Music Press Asia, we are choosing to pause…
As another year of cultural production moves behind us, much of what was written, released, and discussed in 2025 has already begun to fade from view. The pace of publishing rarely allows space to return,…
“When We March Together”: Youth, Music, and the Future of China–US Relations CGTN will release its new documentary “When We March Together” in January 2026, offering a refreshing look at China–US relations through the lens…
Vietnam is set to become a centre of contemporary sound this November as the 4th International Asia–Europe New Music Festival opens across Hanoi and Phu Tho from November 27 – December 1, 2025. Nearly 300…
The Indonesian Music Conference (KMI) 2025 officially opened this week at The Sultan Hotel & Residence in Central Jakarta, bringing together the country’s most influential voices in music, policy, and creative enterprise. Held from October…
When former U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur for the 47th ASEAN Summit, global media turned its gaze toward trade, security, and geopolitics. But for those within the creative industries—recording executives, festival curators,…
If you’ve ever dreamt of turning your balcony, courtyard, or garden corner into a thriving green sanctuary, Wildrain Gardener is the local name you can trust. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Wildrain Gardener offers personalized garden…
The Sarawak International Festival of Music and Arts (SIFMA) is tuning up once again — and this time, the notes sound brighter than ever. As it enters its sixth edition, the two-day festival returns on 6–7 December 2025 at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building…
A therapeutic brand birthed by a slow city surrounded by mountains and the sea Surrounded…
China’s beloved song-and-dance drama takes home the Wenhua Grand Prize, marking another milestone for children’s…
The 22nd edition of Music China wrapped up after four dynamic days at the Shanghai…
When the world’s stages light up, jazz pulses in the rhythm of discovery — and…
I never thought I’d one day find myself behind a digital mixing console, responsible for shaping the sound of a live show. Yet, beginning mid-2025, I decided to take on a new challenge: shadowing a sound mixer for ten live…
Building a brand of celebration for the body, mind, and spirit, and resonance between the slow economy and local culture Located in southwestern Taiwan and surrounded by the mountains and the Pacific, Taitung has held the Taitung Spirit Festival since…
Building a brand of celebration for the body, mind, and spirit, and resonance between the slow economy and local culture Located in southwestern Taiwan and surrounded by the mountains and the Pacific, Taitung has held the Taitung Spirit Festival since…
On a humid evening in Kuala Lumpur, while the city thrums with its usual blend of traffic noise and late-night chatter, Monica Tong is already at her desk, sifting through a draft story submitted by a young contributor from Manila.…
In the spirit of Taitung, beauty of its people, and geography, how has Taitung evolved economically over the last few years? We are curious how Taitung has come to embrace…
Pinay mezzo-soprano singer Michelle Mariposa was one of the 1,500 participants of the Metropolitan Opera’s Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. The 30-year-old Filipino-Chinese singer from Quezon City wowed judges with her performance of Gioachino Rossini’s Semiramide,…
Recently released, Sir David Attenborough presents Asia, a seven-part series dedicated to our planet’s greatest continent, revealing its most remarkable landscapes and animals. Filmed over the course of nearly four…
When an interview day and time to meet Malaysian sitar artists was made available to me, I jumped on the opportunity right away. Why? It wasn’t at all difficult to…
The Indonesian Music Conference (KMI) 2025 officially opened this week at The Sultan Hotel & Residence in Central Jakarta, bringing together the country’s most influential voices in music, policy, and creative enterprise. Held from October 8 to 10 under the theme “One Basic Nada” (One…
When former U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur for the 47th ASEAN Summit, global media turned its gaze…
By the Music Press Asia Global Desk October 2025 has been a month of distinct acceleration across Southeast Asia’s music…
The Yulin Folk Music Season 2025 officially commenced on Sep 29 at the Folk Music Lane Plaza in Wuhou district of Chengdu, Sichuan province, marking the…
The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) is proud to announce that its commissioned Cantonese opera, Love in the Bamboo Grove,…
Sydney, Australia — Opera Australia is set to captivate audiences once again with Madama Butterfly, Puccini’s timeless masterpiece, staged at…
Sami Yusuf—born in Tehran of Azerbaijani descent but raised in London—has carved an extraordinary niche as a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and…
Malaysia’s beloved arts biennale, the Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF), is concluding its 10th‑anniversary edition with a spectacular final…
The Global Score: One Big Market, Two Realities In 2024, the global recorded-music market was valued at US$29.6 billion, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Out of that, the United States alone accounted for approximately US$17.7 billion, or nearly 60% of total revenue. Asia-Pacific, by comparison, remains the fastest-growing but still relatively smaller contributor — worth…
Introduction: AI & Music Creation: Is the Future of Music Artificial? From viral TikTok beats to chart-topping pop hits, artificial…
SXSW attendees gathered on the evening March 10 to celebrate the winners of the 2025 SXSW Innovation Awards, sponsored by LATAM Airlines. Hosted by three-time Grammy nominee SaulPaulSome, the Innovation Awards is an opportunity for some of the most creative projects across 11 categories to…
Chinese Animated Blockbuster Ne Zha 2 Premieres Worldwide The much-awaited most recent version of the Chinese mainland’s animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” premiered on Tuesday night in Hong Kong and was scheduled to officially hit Hong Kong theaters on Saturday. Ne Zha is perhaps one…
As the high-performance computing (HPC) community gathers in Atlanta for SC24, the world’s largest HPC conference, the event will feature presentations from thought leaders and experts in advanced computing. The Top500 list of fastest supercomputers in the world will be a highlight. The current list…
On 11 August 2025, the New National Theatre Tokyo (NNTT), Japan’s premier performance venue, launched the boldly imaginative Natasha — a one-act, multilingual opera by Toshio Hosokawa with a libretto by Yoko Tawada. As the third new commission under Artistic Director Kazushi Ono, this production not only continues NNTT’s recent dedication to cultivating Japanese contemporary composers but also stakes a…
In the world of late 90s television, few shows dared to blur the line between courtroom drama, emotional introspection, and musical fantasy quite like Ally McBeal. Created by David E. Kelley, the series wasn’t just known for its quirky characters or surreal narrative style—it carved…
The Premiere & first impressions In its international premiere at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre on 21 June 2025, Gang-a Tsui Theater’s Apostate arrived as a daring philosophical theatrical that dares its audience to think—and keep thinking. Renowned for its cerebral storytelling, the Taiwanese troupe…
For something so universally adored, chocolate remains surprisingly underrated. Sure, we gift it on Valentine’s Day, savour it during celebrations, or reach for it when in need of comfort — but do we truly celebrate chocolate for all it represents? Beyond its rich, indulgent flavour,…
1. A New Beat for Music TourismAnguilla’s first-ever Music Tourism Convention puts the island on the global map as a destination where music, culture, and sustainable travel converge. It’s not just a conference — it’s a blueprint for how small islands can amplify creative economies…
The Ministry of Culture and the Royal Commission for AlUla have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Riyadh during the Cultural Investment…
International Music X (IMX) recently announced the global launch of its 2025 season, establishing a strategic partnership with Music China,…
The first working days of a new year often arrive quietly. Desks are cleared, inboxes refill, and the cultural machinery…
As another year of cultural production moves behind us, much of what was written, released, and discussed in 2025 has…
“When We March Together”: Youth, Music, and the Future of China–US Relations CGTN will release its new documentary “When We…
With just days left before the stage lights rise, the world is turning its eyes toward Kuching, Sarawak — a…
Vietnam is set to become a centre of contemporary sound this November as the 4th International Asia–Europe New Music Festival…
The first working days of a new year often arrive quietly. Desks are cleared, inboxes refill, and the cultural machinery…
“When We March Together”: Youth, Music, and the Future of China–US Relations CGTN will release its new documentary “When We…
China’s beloved song-and-dance drama takes home the Wenhua Grand Prize, marking another milestone for children’s theatre and cultural storytelling. A…
The 22nd edition of Music China wrapped up after four dynamic days at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, bringing…
When the world’s stages light up, jazz pulses in the rhythm of discovery — and in 2025, Asia has become…
