PUTRAJAYA – The government does not allocate any funds to concert organisers to obtain exclusive rights to bring foreign artists to perform in Malaysia.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said if the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry (Motac) intends to implement the initiative, the decision rests with the concerned parties and is subject to approval by cabinet ministers.
“So as of now, the Communications Ministry doesn’t provide such allocations.
“However, if Motac intends to implement this, it is contingent upon their decision and that of the cabinet.
“I take note of this matter and will engage in discussions with the Motac minister,” he said during a press conference after the launch of the Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists today.
He said this in response to a question about whether the government intends to emulate the Singaporean government’s approach, which involved spending approximately RM9.56 million to RM14.34 million to acquire exclusive rights for Taylor Swift’s concert, as part of their initiative to boost the tourism sector.
Fahmi further explained that, in most cases, concert organisers are private companies that enter into exclusive rights agreements with outside artists to host events.
“In last year’s Muse concert, the organisers exclusively chose Kuala Lumpur as the venue, excluding the rest of Asia.
“They accomplished this without government funding, relying solely on the efforts of the organisers to arrange and promote the event,” he explained.
He said the ministry is currently focusing on streamlining the process for concert applications submitted to the Central Agency for Applications for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artists.
“We have been receiving complaints about the extended duration required for confirmation and authorisation. Within the ministry’s jurisdiction, I will find ways to expedite this timeframe.
“Simplifying the process would not only address these concerns but also serve as an incentive for organisers. Typically, interactions involve organisers rather than direct dealings between artists and the government,” he said. – February 20, 2024