SIBU: The music industry of today needs new and creative thinking, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Tan Sri Dr James Masing.
He pointed out that this would provide greater opportunity for composers and singers to captivate music lovers.
“Youths are the group who are really interested in music and they also have the purchasing power,” he said when opening the semi-finals of the ‘Anugerah Carta Sapa Juara’ (ACSJ) 2016, hosted by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) at the civic centre here yesterday.
His text of speech was read by Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira.
Masing said the programme would render more opportunities for composers to fan interest on the local music scene. This would generate income through album sales, he said.
“The (local) music industry should be thankful because at present, the demand for Iban songs are still encouraging.
“I am confident the involvement of RTM, especially the services of Iban WAlfm, MiriFM, BintuluFM and SibuFM in organising ACSJ, not only achieves its objective but the whole Iban community in Sarawak and the state government’s dream of RTM as an exclusive broadcasting body for Iban songs/Sarawak ethnic apart from fostering unity and integration within the community, in line with 1Malaysia concept through music industry and Dayak culture as well as Iban in general,” he said.
He said ASCJ could become an icon of the Iban music industry, whereby it would demand high commitment from all parties, particularly local recording companies so that RTM’s objective in uplifting the status of the Iban music industry would be anything but rhetorical.
“Make full use of the prestige plan like this one as a stepping stone to produce quality work and be innovative in line with the ACSJ’s theme this year, ‘Lagu Kitai sada Nyawa Kitai’,” he said.
Later, Christopher announced a grant of RM30,000 from Masing for the organisation of ACSJ 2016, while he (Christopher) also announced his own allocation of RM5,000 for the same purpose.
Source: http://miri.my/2016/08/22/crank-it-up-to-captivate-youths-masing-tells-musicians/