While there has been quite a few publications about China´s musical underground in recent years, the business side of the industry in the Peoples Republic of China has seldom been touched. The information that does get out often has been highly distorted in order to serve individuals interests. Instead of just listening to one actor´s opinion about the Chinese Music Industry, Beijing/Berlin based artist services & productions team FAKE MUSIC MEDIA chose to film a series of interviews in which several important scene protagonists express their view about the industry. The result “You / Mei You – Music Industry in China” is a first sketch of a larger project, that will eventually cover the most important players in the scene.
The first four interviews will be debuted at all2togehternow. They cover a broad spectrum: from media (Mei Yan -- General Manager of Viacom Asia- MTV), to festivals organizers (Scarlet Li, C.E.O. of Zebra Media), to venues (Lu Zhi Qiang, manager of Yu Gong Yi Shan), to the daily workings of an indie label (Hai Feng, Head of Operations – Maybe Mars). This cross section of the top players in the China Music Scene were all asked 2 simple quesitons: What does China have and what does China lack? The resulting answers paint the most accurate and revealing picture of the opportunities and challenges facing the industry in China today.
Following this 30 minute documentary, Johannes Marx will speak on his experience of touring in China. Marx who toured China twice with his band PITCHTUNER, is probably together with Jeans Team and Maximilian Hecker the most China-experienced German pop-artist.
Then FAKE MUSIC MEDIA founders Helen Feng & Philipp Grefer will answer questions per Videoconference from China. Helen Feng has worked in China for 8 years as an MTV VJ, popular radio show host, music critic, and frontwomen for the two Beijing bands PET CONSPIRACY and FREE THE BIRDS (formerly ZIYO). Philipp Grefer aka (DJ) METRO TOKYO and freelance journalist, has toured several artists in Europe, Central America, and Asia and has been working for three years as a promoter in China. Both Helen & Philipp worked on different film projects and music videos ranging from Hollywood production THE MUMMY III (Helen sung the title song) to underground films about 2RAUMWOHNUNG (filmed by Philipp) or JEANS TEAM touring in China a.o.
In the end Berlin´s Puppet Mastaz give an insight on their underground research on China. Which will probably be undermined with actual facts when they get over there soon. (tbc)
Theme track ROLES & IDENTITIES is presented by "MUSIKMARKT".
