WHERE’S THE MUSIC GONE, HONG KONG?
- Hans Ebert
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
It really doesn’t take an Einstein to understand this, but during these days of “influencers” and influenzas and clodhoppers and KOLs and where so much of everything has been really really really dumbed down and me really really really being a music guy who has helped run the regional offices of Universal Music and EMI Music and worked with artists as diverse as Norah Jones and Gorillaz to Faye Wong and Jackie Cheung, and since the majority of the tourists to Hong Kong are tourists from the mainland and not exactly immersed in music, surely this is why this art form has quickly become an endangered species in the city?
This is for the simple reason that music, especially Western music, is not unlike speaking in foreign tongues and appeals to extremely few people in the city today.
I remember exactly when Western music was “curtailed” on Commercial Radio in the city and the airtime given to Cantonese recordings though some Western music was heard. But , over the past two decades, this type of music has all but disappeared or is hardly promoted.
This might explain why, let’s say compared to Singapore, international artists like Taylor Swift and her recent Eras Tour would rather perform there and where she has an audience- duh- and why, with an event like the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, attracts almost the world, especially much of Asia, who descend on the Lion City.
And Hong Kong? Well, if a concert promoter, who cares anymore about Hong Kong?
What’s the point in having ‘live’ music at somewhere like the races that’s fighting for the attention of the public to make a bet though one wonders how many in the public stands have in the way of ka-ching?
Other than some people moving to a Neanderthal beat, how many are listening to the lyrics, or even care about whatever music is going unless, of course, this music is kinda known to the aging local populace and which is the usual sentimental slush?
This is very probably why those in charge of marketing Hong Kong have such little knowledge and interest in who they bring out here and also why the ‘live’ music “scene” is made up of many who have been doing the rounds in the city for decades.
It might sound irrelevant and petty, but it’s not.
Once upon a dim sum, Hong Kong was all about being aspirational and ahead the curve. It had a “Most Favoured City” status.
These days, not even some of the real cutting edge young musicians from Beijing and Taiwan and iconic artists from the mainland and other parts of Asia will not even think of performing in Hong Kong. This then makes the city look tired and listless.
Why? Because Hong Kong has lost its Cool factor and which it kinda had for a couple of years. But this was a very very long time ago and for a very short while.
Today, the “coolest” thing in Hong Kong are plush toys and being fed everything from the past and with the city accepting everything and anything because it’s free or is free and familiar.
What does this say about the brand and product personality of Hong Kong?
How attractive is it in 2026 to those overseas investors and entrepreneurs who might see the financial potential and opportunity to turn things around in Hong Kong without resorting to going back to the past with Doc and Marty?
No one does anything for free for others to grab and call it their own unless they’re bloody fools and living in la la land and travelling with the fairies.