-          To develop an understanding of the dynamics of Asian music markets.

-          To understand the local specificities (e.g . economic, social, cultural, political and historical factors) of business practice and music market in the given national territories.

-          To understand various production systems, artist training and management, branding and promotion, and fandom in the Asian music industries.

-          To understand branding of local/national genres and repertoires (e.g . K-pop, J-pop, Mando-pop), for different consumers (domestic, transnational/diaspora, global).

-          To understand how international music genres (e.g. rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz and Western classical music) are adapted and localised for domestic consumption: for example, by adding local elements and idioms, by adapting to the local tastes, values and needs, and by inserting or repositioning the specific international genre into the local repertoire.

-          To understand various roles of the public sectors and nation-state in Asian music markets.

-          To understand the relationships between different national music markets in the Asian region and the impacts of these transnational transactions.

-          To understand how globalisation influences reconfigures the position of national and regional music markets in Asia and the roles of their key players including producers, artists, promoters, intermediaries, fans and consumers, etc.

-          To understand how the mobility of various key players brings the Asian music markets and consumers to the global domains of music business: for example, international tours, auditions, festivals, competitions, collaborations, music tourism, etc.

-          To understand how the digital technology and social media influence Asian music markets nationally, regionally and globally and with respect to music production, promotion, distribution and consumption.   

-          To identify and understand the key theories associated with globalisation, music industries and media studies as relevant to Asian music markets.

-          To critically examine the position of Asian markets in the local, regional and global contexts. 

This module offers a comprehensive overview of Asian music markets and their positions and roles in connection with the international music market. It will examine different national and regional music businesses in Asia and address various questions and topics by way of a range of case studies and examples. Topics and themes include:

·          ‘defining Asian music market(s)’,

·         ‘national and regional dimensions of Asian markets’,

·         ‘branding music genres and repertoires’,

·          ‘international music tourism and Asian consumers’,

·          ‘international music festivals in Asia’, ‘Asian artists in the Western classical music world’,

·          ‘Asian cultural industries and state policies’.

·         Specific case studies and music genres will include: J-pop, K-pop, Mando-pop, Canto-pop, the Korean Wave, ‘Cool Japan’, anime, TV dramas and reality shows in Asia, conservatories in Europe and North America  (Julliard School, Royal College of Music) and Western classical music competitions (Tchaikovsky Competition, International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, Cardiff Singer of the World).  

Students will find that this module is prepared for by MUSI 526 - Music Industry, and is complemented by Globalisation (MUSI 520) where themes recur and literature is shared.

Lecture - The lectures will introduce and explore the key centres for the production of popular music in SE Asia and explore what is distinctive in and characteristic of their methods.

The reading list contains additional, Asia-specific titles but should be used in conjunction with those for MUSI 526 and MUSI 520