Concert-goers applaud proposal for age-rated performances
MUSIC fans and concert-goers have joined in the chorus for more international acts to perform here.
And if concerts have to be rated according to age appropriateness, they are all for it if that means more shows can take place at home.
Senior finance executive Andy Abdul Aziz, 33, feels that the current situation is like a “recession” when it comes to live international acts.
“Concerts and shows by foreign artistes feel scarcer these days. There are only a handful each year,” he feels.
Citing American punk band Green Day as an example, Andy says many of his favourite acts skip Malaysia when they come to perform in this part of the world.
“It’s a waste, really. Malaysia is such a nice country to visit with one of the cheapest hotel rates in the region.
“But we need to spend extra money to catch these acts when they go to Singapore or Bangkok,” he laments, adding that he was willing to travel if he had the means to go.
Andy says it doesn’t make sense to completely ban so-called controversial performers and supports the idea of an age rating system for concerts meant for more mature audiences.
“Perhaps younger teenagers and children should be supervised by adults.
“Also, I believe the age restriction should be 16 and above as 18 is too old,” suggests Andy, who enjoys rock, pop and rap.
He also hopes the government will not cave into pressure from conservative groups to cancel performances which have already been approved by the authorities.
Echoing the sentiment that many performers are going to Malaysia’s neighbours, Kenneth Ng, 36, says the government should encourage more live shows here.
He is willing to travel to see his favourite bands, but there’s more that should be done to improve things in Malaysia.
“Encouraging more live performances here will create opportunities for local bands and artistes to compete on a global scale and boost the country’s economy by having more people coming here for live shows,” says Ng, who loves black and heavy metal music.
He says everyone has the freedom and right to attend concerts by their favourite bands or singers.
“If setting an age limit for concerts in Malaysia can ensure that more shows are held here without any interference from the authorities, why not?” says Ng, an IT analyst.
He hopes people will adopt a more open-minded and mature approach towards live events and entertainment.
“Let music be music and leave politics and religion aside. If our neighbours can host events like annual heavy metal festivals, we can too,” Ng adds.
A K-pop and Chinese music fan who wishes to be known only as Chong, 33, hopes there will be less restrictions imposed on performers.
“With less restrictions, I believe the quality of concerts can be better. Sometimes, the concerts here are shorter than those overseas.
“The choice of the singer’s attire isn’t very important to me, but perhaps some acts have been advised to change the content of their performance based on restrictions,” she says.
Chong, a marketing executive, finds that the number of concerts by K-pop and Asian stars are still average.
“More fan meetings are being held with such stars though, so that means such events are held on a smaller scale these days,” she says.
She observes that many children attend K-pop concerts, so having age limits for such shows may not be good for business.
But all in all, Chong, like all music fans, wants more of her favourite stars to land on our shores.
“Of course, I wish for more of my idols to come here,” she adds.
Postgraduate student Vanessa Raj, 26, feels that Malaysia should be more open-minded about performances here as a form of art and expression as long as it doesn’t go against the law.
“I find that questioning a performer based on factors such as their sexual orientation is rather irrelevant.
“Unfortunately, previous protests based on a performer’s personal life or attire has painted us in a negative light,” says the hip hop and R&B lover.
She says the proposal to have an age limit for shows will give a win-win situation for both concert-goers and the authorities as impressionable children will not be allowed to attend mature shows.
“But exposure to so-called controversial performers is still available on the Internet.
“Perhaps what is more important is educating teenagers and children about good values so that they know how to accept something as just an artistic impression which should not necessarily be followed,” she adds.