Bands Of The Free by Phang Kuan Hoong

Media and corporate attention: Miracle or menace?

In 2007, the Malaysian indie music scene had been given heaps of attention far more than previously. Media coverage increased with the introduction of Junk Magazine in the last quarter of 2006 while entertainment-media businesses began to allocate air-time for indie music. Corporate businesses (especially telcos) began to realize the increasing youth market potential in the scene previously untapped and ignored while fashion brands are turning their seasons over to "nu-rave" -- the current favourite look of young indie hipsters.

All this have meant promotional miracles and a resulting sheen -- not without a subtle "Malaysia Boleh!" aura -- for the indie music scene. Show organisers no longer need to hit the streets and distribute gig flyers. Musicians can upload their music on an increasing number of dedicated websites and receive instant response while indie fashion labels are taking on names beyond the hipster periphery.

However, with this sudden burst of perceived "coolness", the questions loom: Is the scene ready for this? Will the corporate sponsors taint the outright honesty and dignified purity we've worked so hard and long for?

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