Introduction to the Conference
The Singapore All That Matters Conference brought together top industry professionals from Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Amazon Music, Netflix, and Gold House to discuss the expanding role of Asia in the global content industry. The conference, moderated by Angel Lee, explored how Asian intellectual property (IP) is being scaled up in music, anime, games, and film.
The Rise of Asian IP
Bing Chen, Executive Chair and CEO of Gold House, emphasized the paradigm shift in the industry. "Historically, global content went to the West, but now Asia is standing on its own," he said. Chen highlighted the cross-pollination of K-pop with Indian music and argued that franchise companies need to develop beyond star-driven sequels. He cited Pokémon as a prime example, with its world-building structure that enables endless new characters and stories without relying on superstar actors.
The Power of Fandom
Nobu Nakatake from Sony Music Entertainment Japan stressed the importance of endurance in incubating global fandom. He pointed to the success of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle", which grossed over $600 million worldwide and garnered 67 million approvals. "Building a fan base on a global scale is hard work," he said, noting that the franchise’s journey began almost a decade ago with a manga series before exploding into a cultural phenomenon.
The Role of Streaming Platforms
Frankie YaptiNchay from Amazon Music discussed the platform’s cross-convertible reach and highlighted the milestone of booking a K-pop group for "Amazon Music Live" after a Thursday night football game in a prime-time slot. "We saw record viewership," he said, praising the combination of Twitch, Prime Video, and live fan experiences. YaptiNchay argued that collaborations work best when they are authentic, citing Amazon’s unique blend of services as a key factor.
Direct Artist-to-Artist Connections
The discussion participants emphasized the importance of direct artist-to-artist connections. "Artists should speak to artists or creators in the same language," said Nakatake, warning against collaborations that feel forced. Chen added that cultivating smaller circles of committed fans can have oversized effects, and encouraged creators to curate fan experiences and offer status-based privileges.
The Future of Content Creation
The artists also discussed the role of AI in content creation, despite creative concerns. "Unfortunately, there is a high correlation between the volume of content created and the size of the audience," said YaptiNchay. Nakatake urged artists to use AI to their advantage, while also emphasizing the importance of staying true to their cultural identity. "Be different and don’t copy Western top-hit chart songs," he said. The conference concluded with a call for greater Asian representation in global institutions, such as the Grammys, and a recognition of the growing importance of Asian IP in the global content industry.
