There’s no stopping the Bangkok Music City train. The same elements that have endeared BMC to its supporters are still very much around, but in lieu of its signature staging at creative district Chareonkrung, it will be live-streamed on November 28-29, 2020—for Thailand-based showcase talents at least—from co-working hub Glowfish Sathorn. “I think that the COVID-19 pandemic has paved the way for virtual music events, whether conferences, concerts, gigs, or festivals,” says festival co-founder Piyapong ‘Py’ Muenprasertdee. “Even though physical is still the best way to experience live music, virtual solutions help make things more cost-effective and efficient,” he adds.
But if the marquee of slated performers is any indication, the milieu ceases to matter a great deal, and it’s clear that BMC remains unflagging in scope, breadth, and imagination. The announcement, in fact, follows Bangkok Music City’s domestic lineup reveal, which includes celebrated talents such as Alec Orachi, Daniel Ryn, Newery, YONLAPA, H 3 F, electric.
“On a larger scale, I envision BMC to become a vehicle to help support the sustainable development of the creative industries—starting with my field of work, which is music,” Muenprasertdee, who worked in a sustainability and climate change consultancy before he started BMC, shared in a previous interview with Gig Life Pro. “I wanted to find a way to make the music industry more sustainable and turn [being an] indie musician into a stable career choice.”
While it takes after predecessors like SXSW (US) and Zandari Festa (Korea), BMC prides itself in its distinct character, as well as the rabid devotion of the people surrounding it: participants, performers, audience, and organizers alike. A true believer in representation and sustainability for music creatives, Muenprasertdee goes on to say, “I hope to make [the experience] as good as possible and improve it every year. I also hope to reinvite people who not only create business value but also long-lasting relationships and friendships with others.”
Billed as an entertainment and technology summit, Bangkok Music City will also feature talks and sessions on music copyright, gaming and e-sports, artificial intelligence, music streaming, political communications, and a sprawling array of related subject areas.
