Turn up the volume on new approaches to attract big-name acts
- The lack of a big venue and the late reopening after the pandemic have possibly kept Hong Kong off tour schedules of international headliners, but marketing the city as an event-based tourism destination, as other cities in Asia have done, could help bring them back
A worrying gap in Hong Kong’s normally busy entertainment calendar is in the spotlight after industry experts admitted that many big-name international artists are giving the city a miss on their world tours.
Hong Kong music fans have long enjoyed living in an attractive destination for globally recognised acts – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, INXS and Prince to name a few. But now, Hong Kong seems to be struggling to make the list.
American singer Taylor Swift has announced multiple dates in Asia next year including Japan and Singapore. British band Coldplay is preparing to perform in Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Later this year, UK group The 1975 plans stops in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan, while K-pop girl group Twice will perform in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.
Event organisers say international headliners accustomed to performing before tens of thousands of fans seem to have decided that Hong Kong will not offer enough space. In the past, the Hong Kong Coliseum was a draw with its capacity of 12,500 which dwarfed what other major cities across Asia could offer. Today, the likes of Shenzhen, Macau and Singapore have caught up with bigger venues.
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Mega acts that can fill huge stadiums can only choose from relatively small venues such as AsiaWorld-Expo, Star Hall and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is also disappointing that Hong Kong Stadium, which can hold 40,000 spectators, is off the list because it sits in a residential area. A new 50,000-seat stadium is being built at Kai Tak, but it is not expected to be ready until late this year at the earliest.
Another deterrent was the city’s relatively late reopening to the world after the Covid-19 pandemic, which left stars unable to consider Hong Kong as they planned current world tours. Concerns about the city being caught up in global political tension may even play a role as artists and their managers plan tour itineraries.
It would be unfortunate if such obstacles are not overcome. The city has a large audience, which has already eagerly snapped up tickets for Blackpink, Mayday and Jay Chou since pandemic restrictions were eased. Hong Kong also has an edge as a convenient “stepping stone” for fans from mainland China and other markets around the region.
A critical missing piece may be a targeted strategy, such as marketing the city as an event-based tourism destination as other cities in Asia have done. It is important for industry players and the authorities to turn up the volume on new approaches to get international acts back on local stages, giving the business community as well as fans new reasons to cheer.
