In response to popular culture and opportunities, GMA Festival arranged several sessions in its international forum, such as concert market prospects, hip-hop culture expansion and opportunities, overseas opportunities, and regional strategies. As hip-hop gained popularity in recently in Mandarin-speaking music, GMA invited hip-hop label KAO!INC. owner Dela Chang to talk about its influences and current status in Taiwan. Hip-hop professionals were never trained at school or by labels, said Chang, but in life. The session was moderated by Billboard’s Rob Schwartz, and attended by Iron Mic founder (China), 88rising co-founder (America), and Yuck band guitarist Ed Hayes (Britain).
For overseas market subject, GMA invited CJ E&M content and Mnet channel general manager (Korea), MusicHelp senior advisor (Sweden), Cros Music vice president of operation, and label Modernsky CEO Lihui Shen, who has been working in America for ten years. Modernsky established a subsidiary in Britain last year, started a new sport brand, and would be organize a sports festival this year. Concert market prospects session would focus on prospering performances and exhibitions in recent years. Panelists include Zepp Hall Network Inc. representative (Japan) building a live house in Taipei, Dada Arts general manager, China Music World CEO, and Association of Digital Culture Taiwan executive. The regional strategy session will be moderated by Commonwealth Magazine chief writer Yuelin Ma. Panelists, including Sound Diplomacy APAC business development consultant Robin Malau, Le Guess Who? festival director Johan Gijsen, and Sound City CEO David Pichilingi, will talk about how music festivals facilitate regional developments.
