音乐去了哪里？[where has the music gone to?]

It must be the new year mood that put us in such reflective mood.  this is the third "musing" article we write in a row. 

tonight is another night spent in the recording studio with Ben, Winnie and Stefano.

recording studio is a sacred place for musicians and singers, it shouldn't be visited too often, lest is loses its freshness and uniqueness. The excitement of entering the studio has to be such that it signifies the imminent birth of an album, a labour of love and devotion to music.

fact is, most recording studios are in sunset business. very few people are cutting albums nowadays. In fact, most of the local chinese singers have switched career to become actors in tv dramas and movies. it is more lucrative and they get the exposures they need. becoming a singer to eke out a living? you must be kidding considering today's miserable climate. you will starve to death before you even make it.

the few chinese movies that stormed the box office last year provided the impetus for investors to flock (flock is the best word) to movie making. but as one industry pundit observed: one swallow does not make a summer. the few chinese movies are successful because of many reasons, they are the exceptions more than the rule, it is still risky investing in movie making.

but movies are movies, they are many people who are willing to pay for a ticket and enjoy the cinema experience with friends or loved ones. unlike music, which, has no such "social" values. you buy the CD and you listen alone.

we just spoke to one friend who used to do PR in chinese music industry. he has changed industry since to dabble in event management now. he lamented the fact that there is hardly anyone who is engaging a PR for music/albums nowadays.

we have also a very enterprising friend who started out with a music label and now he is into movie making and his recent movie was a box office hit. looks like he would never come back to music.

everyone is abandoning music making but we are not. we are not starting a "pop pop movie" department any sooner, rest assured. 

music, like entering a recording studio, always brings us excitement, time after time.