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MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

MALAYSIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY HITS HIGH NOTES WITH THE NATIONAL

CREATIVE INDUSTRY POLICY (DIKN)

Kuala Lumpur, 18 February 2014 – The Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) in association

with the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (MCM) and its industry partners has achieved a

fulfilling year in 2013 by successfully rolling out various significant initiatives aimed at developing the

local music industry and to improve music export revenue for the national economy.

Since the launch and visionary implementation of the National Creative Industry Policy or ‘Dasar Industri

Kreatif Negara’ (DIKN) in 2011 by the then Ministry of Information, Communication & Culture in

collaboration with the Performance Management & Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) under the Prime Minister’s

Department, the Malaysian Government has continuously provided strong support for the local music

industry and its players. This is especially with the inclusion of the DIKN as part of Malaysia’s progressive

Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), formulated to elevate the country to developed-nation

status by 2020 and centred on raising Malaysia's global competitiveness.

Under DIKN, a fund amounting to RM6.5 million has been allocated specifically for the music industry.

The six (6) main projects which were lined up and rolled out under the DIKN music initiatives for 2013

include (i) the organisation of a trade delegation to the Marche International du Disque et de l’Edition

Musicale (MIDEM) in Cannes, France in 2013 and 2014, (ii) the launch of two other Anugerah Industri

Muzik (AIM) award shows for the Chinese and Indian music segments as an addition to the annual AIM

awards for the Malay music industry, (iii) the introduction of Matching Grants for Music Video production,

(iv) the introduction of Overseas Tour Support Grants, (v) the organisation of a music professional

accreditation programme spearheaded by Persatuan Karyawan Malaysia (Karyawan) and finally, (vi) the

inaugural FORUMUZIK, a national level music industry forum featuring both local and international

industry experts.

1) Trade Delegation to Marche International du Disque et de l’Edition Musicale (MIDEM) 2013 &

2014

2013: In January 2013, RIM led a Malaysian delegation comprising government officials, 15 local music

companies and 8 performing recording artistes to MIDEM in Cannes, France, the world’s largest annual

international business event for music, audio production and all other music related industries. MIDEM is

the longest running tradeshow and conference in the music business attended by major labels,

independent labels, distributors, agents, managers, promoters, media, digital music representatives and

other important players in the global music community.

With MIDEM, RIM has taken the initiative to bring and truly promote the Malaysian music industry

overseas to generate larger economic returns for the industry and the Malaysian economy. Various

business discussion sessions were organised between the Malaysian trade delegation and international

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music industry players including a special “Networking Village” session which were especially organised

by MIDEM for Malaysia as a first time country participant.

To create a bigger impact from Malaysia’s presence at MIDEM, a “Malaysian Supernova Concert” was also

organised at the Salon des Ambassadeurs, Palais des Festival, Cannes to showcase the various Malaysian

local talents from different genres of music. Chosen based on their credentials and awards, being export

ready and their ability to perform live before an international audience, the concert featured vibrant

performances from Jaclyn Victor, Hujan, Bunkface, Sasi The Don, Nadhira, Amanda Imani, Ze! and

Goldfish & Blink. The concert was witnessed by MIDEM trade participants and general audience.

Photo 1a: The Vice Secretary General of the

Ministry of Information, Communication and

Culture, Y. Bhg Datuk Hj. Ab. Ghaffar A. Tambi

posing together with some of the Malaysian trade

participants and artistes in front of the Malaysian

Pavilion at MIDEM 2013.

Photo 1b: Aurélie Filippetti, France’s Minister of

Information and Culture took the time to visit the

Malaysian Pavilion on the second day of MIDEM, 27th

January, 2013.

Photo 1c: Y. Bhg Datuk Hj. Ab. Ghaffar A. Tambi (middle) together with Dr. Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek, Director, NKEA (PEMANDU) (fourth from left) in front of the Malaysian Pavilion with other trade participants and a representative from the Malaysian Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)

Photo 1d: Jaclyn Victor performing in front of an international audience during the Malaysian Supernova Concert at MIDEM.

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2014: In February 2014, RIM once again led a Malaysian delegation to MIDEM and this time it was joined

by 17 local record companies and 4 recording artistes which include Shila Amzah, Goldkartz, Azlan & the

Typewriter and ThomasJack. With better preparation, Malaysia’s participation in 2014 created a bigger

impact to all trade participants and exhibition visitors. Various business networking sessions were

organised including an event called the ‘Malaysia Networking Reception’ to give more opportunity for

global industry players to network with Malaysian participants and create various collaboration and

business deals. The ‘Malaysian Supernova Concert’ which was organised at the Magic Mirror also received

positive response from concert goers with some regarding it as ‘the best concert put up this year at

Midem’.

Photo 2a: The Under Secretary of the Policy and

Strategic Planning Unit, Ministry of Communications

and Multimedia, Dr. Ismail Jamaluddin (middle),

RIM Chairman, Norman Abdul Halim (third from

left), RIM CEO, Ramani Ramalingam (second from

left) posing together with CEO of REED MIDEM, Mr.

Paul Zilk (third from right) and MIDEM International

Sales Manager, Guillaume Crisafulli (far right) at

MIDEM 2014.

Photo 2b: Malaysian delegates discussing with fellow

market attendees at the Malaysian Pavilion.

Photo 2c: Azlan & The Typewriter wowed the crowd with their powerful performance at Malaysian Supernova Concert.

Photo 2d: Shila Amzah performing in front of an international audience during the Malaysian Supernova Concert at MIDEM 2014.

2) (i) Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) Chinese Awards 2013

After an absence of 12 years, RIM revived the AIM Chinese Awards which was successfully organised at

the prestigious Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on 6 July 2013 and telecast to the

public on Astro’s AEC channel on Merdeka Day, 31 August 2013. The aim was to honour the many talents

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and contributors within the local Chinese language music industry and to create a platform to encourage

local talents and producers to produce good quality music for the Chinese speaking community in

Malaysia and also for the global market.

Ably organised by a RIM committee chaired by Ong Lay Jin, a well-known figure in the Malaysian Chinese

language music industry, it was attended by some the biggest names within the scene such as A Bin,

Daniel Lee, Z-Chen, ThomasJack, Platform 11, Eric Lin and dayDream. The event witnessed the

attendance of our local Greater China based superstar artistes such as Penny Tai, singer/songwriter Aniu

and Eric Moo, who was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution Award for his internationally known

work in the music industry.

Themed “Heritage”, the event saw Z-Chen being celebrated as the biggest winner of the night going

home with the Best Male Vocal Performance and Best Album awards. His album also won the awards for

Best Composer (Jin Yu Liang Yan), Best Lyricist (for the song Xiang Feng Hen Zao) and Best Song

Arrangement (also by Yu).

Photo 3a: The AIM Chinese Awards 2013 was launched by Norman Abdul Halim, Chairman of RIM, Ong Lay Jin, Chairman of the Organising Committee and partners of the awards.

Photo 3b: A group photo of the players of Malaysian Chinese language music industry during the launch of the AIM Chinese Awards 2013.

Photo 3c: Best New Artiste winners at the AIM

Chinese Awards 2013

Photo 3d: Eric Moo was honoured with the

Outstanding Contribution Award for his amazing

work in the music industry.

2) (ii) Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) Malaysian-Indian Awards 2013

Launched in March, the inaugural AIM Malaysia Indian Awards 2013 was held with strong industry support

at the Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam on 12 October 2013 and subsequently telecast to the

general public via Astro’s Vaanavil channel on 15 December 2013. With 2 well-known industry legends in

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Suseela Menon and Dato’ Freddie Fernandez as co-chairs of the RIM organising committee, winners of 16

song and album categories were announced at the star-studded show. In addition to the judged award

categories, the Kembara Award was bestowed upon Yogi B for his efforts and success in promoting local

Indian music abroad. Further, Mr. N. Mariappan, better known as “Isai Thendral”, was honoured with the

coveted Sri Wirama Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his valuable contributions to the

Malaysian-Indian music industry throughout his involvement as an Indian classical music expert.

Guests were treated to 10 live performances from an impressive line-up of new, developing and

established artistes including Ashtaka, Jay, Goldkartz, Thila Laxshman, Shruthi J., OG Dass, Coco Nantha

and many more. Attended by a 1900-strong audience, the event also saw special appearances by

celebrities and public figures in the Malaysian-Indian community who presented the awards to winners.

Heading this list was the popular Chennai-based carnatic music superstar, Mr. P. Unnikrishnan with other

singer celebrities, Dato’ David Arumugam, Datuk DJ Dave and Datin Seri Manimala.

Photo 4a: Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, YB Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz (two from right) accompanied by Dato' Freddie Fernandez and Suseela Menon as Co-Chairpersons of the Organising Committee of the AIM Malaysian-Indian Awards 2013 together Rosmin Hashim, RIM Secretary after the launch of the event.

Photo 4b: The launch of the AIM Malaysian-Indian Awards 2013 was attended by the industry’s biggest names showing full support of the initiative.

Photo 4c: Norman Abdul Halim, Chairman of RIM

together with Mr. Mariappan, recipient of the Sri

Wirama Award, AIM Malaysian-Indian Awards 2013

Photo 4d: Closing finale of the AIM Malaysian-Indian

Awards 2013

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3) FORUMUZIK

The inaugural FORUMUZIK was organised by RIM in association with the Ministry of Communications and

Multimedia on 9 & 10 December 2013 at the Istana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. A national forum for the

Malaysian music community and related industries, it brought forth matters of importance regarding the

local music industry in the context of today’s highly competitive market, current trends in technology

and media. Officiated by Datuk Jailani Johari, Deputy Minister of the MCM, the forum witnessed invited

panels of speakers and moderators discussing topics such as Digital Music and Distribution, New Era of

Music Publishing, Live Music!, Going Global and Media & Music. The programme also featured one-on-one

live interview sessions with two of the country’s most successful recording artistes, Joe Flizzow and

Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza, dubbed the President of Malaysian Hip Hop and Malaysia’s Number One Performer

respectively with segments subsequently broadcast on Astro’s Awani channel.

The panel of speakers and moderators for FORUMUZIK comprised a select number of experienced and

well informed professionals from the different segment of the music and related industries. This included

Afizulazha Abdulla (Chief Digital Services Officer, Celcom Axiata Berhad), Dr. Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul

Malek (Director at PEMANDU), Ong Peng Chu (Project Director, Shila Amzah Entertainment Berhad),

Calvin Wong (Regional Vice President, Warner Music), Habsah Hassan (Chairman, MACP), Kenney Shiu

(Director of Asian Music Publishers Association), Ng Ay Na (Chairperson, Music Publishers Association and

Malaysian Music Publishers), Ng Cheong Hock (Chairman, One Stop Music Berhad), Irene Savaree (CEO &

President, International College of Music), Jeremy Little (CEO, Tune Studios), Audi Mok (Composer) and

Salammusik fresh off their first European tour. Salammusik, Azlan & the Typewriter and an eight-year old

musical wunderkind, Hazury, from Kemaman, Terengganu, also performed at the event during intervals.

Photo 5a: Moderated by Ang Kwee Tiang, IFPI Asian Regional Director, panelists for ‘Digital Music and Distribution’ were Sandy Monteiro – President, Universal Music Group, Tan Chee Meng – Spotify, Ng Cheong Hock – Chairman, One Stop Music Berhad and Jason Vandal – Director of themovemint.com

Photo 5b: Upon officiating the event, Datuk Jailani Johari, Deputy Minister at the Ministry Of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia joined Norman Abdul Halim, Chairman of RIM to listen to the panel discussions that took place at FORUMUZIK.

Photo 5c: Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza moments before going up on stage for a live one-on-one interview moderated by Shazwan of Astro Awani.

Photo 5d: Moderated by Ben Ibrahim, panel members for the discussion on ‘Media and Music’ included Kudsia Kahar – President, Commercial Radio Malaysia, Azlin Reza – Head of General Entertainment Channel, Malay Business of Astro and Reshmonu.

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4) Matching Grants for Music Video (MTV) Production

A fund was introduced in the form of matching grants in which 50% of the full music video production

cost will be reimbursed by the Government. This is to support and encourage the production of high

quality music videos which could later be used to effectively export local music to the international

market. Applications were open to all Malaysian individuals and record labels. The MCM has to date

approved 253 MTV grant applications covering production costs such as art direction, technical

requirements, props, costumes, latest technological applications, editing and related items.

5) Overseas Tour Support Grants

To support local music talents in the promotion and marketing of their products internationally, a

maximum fund of RM 30,000 each was allocated for this purpose covering costs for air travel,

accommodation, media interviews, promotional showcases, photography sessions or any related

promotional items. So far, 47 tour support grant applications have been approved by the MCM.

6) Professional Music Accreditation Programmes

Spearheaded by Persatuan Karyawan Malaysia in association with RIM, a series of intensive professional

music accreditation programmes were organised at Felda Residence Trolak, Perak and Thistle Hotel, Port

Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. Targeting students from various local music faculties such as UPSI, ASWARA

and UITM; and also new singing talents who are only beginning to be involved in the industry, they were

given a crash course on music education and other matters that need to be taken seriously to ensure

success in becoming quality entertainers and performers.

A total of 117 musicians and singers from various sectors of the industry, from recording artistes to hotel and club musicians and singers, entertainers and sessions artistes took part in the Accreditation Program. Out of these a total of 74 artistes, singers and musicians, will be presented with Certificates of Accreditation.

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“This stellar performance in 2013 is the result of tremendous hard work by RIM and its industry partners.

Of course, we could not have done it without the strong support received from various Government

ministries in particular the then Ministry of Information, Communications & Culture and the Ministry of

Communications and Multimedia (MCM) throughout the period. The introduction of the National Creative

Industry Policy (DIKN) has undoubtedly contributed significantly to the growth of the Malaysian music

industry, providing support for initiatives such as innovation, music training and new approaches to

increase quality home-grown music exports. On behalf of the local music community, we hope that the

support would continue in years to come” enthused Norman Abdul Halim, Chairman of RIM.

Amongst the other development strategies laid down in the DIKN is the Music Industry Development Plan

(‘Dasar Industri Muzik Negara’ or DIMN) which encompasses the following main areas:

(i) Establishing a Central Music Industry Oversight Body (ii) Developing Creative Human Capital; (iii) Creating a Conducive Live Performance Environment (concert venues); (iv) Increasing Promotional Efforts; (v) Upgrading Law Enforcement in Anti-Piracy Operations; (vi) Upgrading Skills in Technological Applications; (vii) Strengtehening Research, Innovation & Commercialisation; (viii) Preservating & Archiving of Music Materials (music heritage museum); and (ix) Recognising & Supporting Veteran Artistes

Still in its drafting stages, the MCM is looking at developing and implementing the DIMN with feedback from various government agencies and industry experts on how to create a conducive environment and facilitate the development of the Malaysian music industry.

-END-

About Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM)

The Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) is the national industry trade association set up to

represent locally incorporated recording companies in Malaysia. RIM currently represents almost 300 such

companies and businesses, all of which are involved in the production, manufacturing and distribution of local

and international sound, music video and karaoke recordings.

For more information, please visit www.rim.org.my

Press & Media Contact:

Muhammad Nizam Hj. Khamis (Jiman) Senior Manager, Membership, Events & Communications, RIM L-8-2, 8th Floor, Block L No. 2, Jalan Solaris, Solaris Mont’ Kiara 50480 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603 6207 2800 E-mail: nizam.khamis@rimgroup.my Jumiza Judin Senior Executive, Events & Communications, RIM Tel: +603 6207 2976 E-mail: jumiza.judin@rimgroup.my