Press Release
IFPI Hong Kong Group leading the recording industry amid the pandemic
Launching the Music Must Go On to inject new creative power in music
(24th January,2021)
The Hong Kong recording industry, renowned for its local repertoire, is negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The leading local recording industry body, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (Hong Kong Group) Limited (“IFPI (Hong Kong Group Ltd”) is determined to help the industry to regain confidence in sustaining the business by launching the Music Must Go On (“MMGO”). The project is set to unite the performers and creators, no matter how diverse their music culture and ideals in music be, to converge to support the continuance of Hong Kong’s music market. With the support of funding by Create Hong Kong (“CreateHK”) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the project received industry-wide support including the Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance Limited (HKRIA), the Music Publishers Association of Hong Kong Limited (MPA) as Supporting Organizations. The application stage was completed earlier on.
Through active participation in the MMGO by the creative industries in the remake of Chinese golden melodies that spanned over 40 years, the music lovers will enjoy the release of a spree of 113 new recordings of their favorite melodies, each embracing old and new elements in creativity. The new recording of these 113 Chinese golden melodies involved a total of 98 artistes and bands from 55 local labels, creating no less than 800 external jobs.
Mr. Ricky Fung, CEO of the IFPI (Hong Kong Group) Ltd said that “The recording industry is the beginning of the value chain in commercial music economy. The making of a recording brings about artiste glooming, media proliferation and online music consumption. The hit recordings are the enablers for karaoke entertainment business and ultimately translated to successful live entertainment including mega concerts… All these enable a continuous flow of activities that create jobs. However, hit by the pandemic, all entertainment venues have been closed and live events cancelled. While more than 70% of the workforce in the recording industry are freelancers, one can see how bad to them the situation is. As an industry body, IFPI (Hong Kong Group) Ltd and our governing body quickly responded by devising the MMGO project. CreateHK further made it possible by providing the funding to the project, and this unique program helps create contents, instill jobs creation and keep Hong Kong entertained. We may even over achieve our original target when the project titles yield new music directions that surprise our audience”.
The artiste community welcomes the program with open arms. Artist Vincy Chan said on her television appearance, “The MMGO is a meaningful project which let me have a go with the great recording that I love to make, allowing me to show my unique style. The modernization of these golden oldies is one great way to perpetuate our evergreens”. Producer Clayton Cheung said, “It is wonderful to learn there are so many great local hits for our choice. The project benefit a lot of the industry practitioners, artistes and labels with jobs and a sense of belonging. ”
The media one by one showed great support to the project. So far, those actively participated in the support including Radio Television Hong Kong, the Supporting Media, MOOV, Hong Kong’s largest paid digital music service^ and Phonographic Performance (South East Asia) Ltd (PPSEAL) the rights licensing body opened its license support.
From now till the Chinese New Year in February, 2021, the 113 titles of new recordings will be released in batches with wide promotions and media coverage. The music lovers will sure have a great choice of golden melodies with a new face.
The Music Must Go On.
Disclaimer: Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organizers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.
^ According to the Acorn Marketing & Research Consultants (International Limited) 2019 Q4 Brand Tracker Survey, MOOV has the largest market share amongst paid music services in Hong Kong.