Do Taiwanese love live music? Do they even care for it at all? The answers to these questions appear to be changing. A few years back, the conventional wisdom was to not bother much with big stadium concerts because the audience did not take to them in the same way people do in the US or Europe. It has always been considered something of an irony that Taiwan, with a much bigger population than Hong Kong, rarely gets the top international acts that the special administrative region attracts.
Big live performances are expensive to plan, rehearse and stage, and half-filling just one show does not make it worthwhile. Even with a top classical music concert, Taipei's grand national concert hall at CKS Memorial Hall is often half-empty. It is a crying shame to be sitting in the stalls looking up at the hall's splendid organ pipes while enjoying a show, only to realise that so few people in this busy, crowded city actually bother to go.
A straw poll of friends found that most had only been to a live performance at CKS once or twice since their college days. The numbers that have been to a live pop concert are even thinner. Up until recently, most young Taiwanese would prefer to listen to a CD rather than going to see their favourite star strut their stuff live. A live show requires trekking out to the stadium and standing around for an hour or two before the star comes on.
Things have changed, however, and even those in the music industry are unsure exactly why Taiwanese have come to accept, even love, live concerts. The change appears to be more on the part of the audience than the industry. After all, live concerts in Taiwan are not a new thing, and the formula has stayed about the same. Perhaps it is because of a cultural and demographic shift. Taiwan is becoming richer, and cultural and entertainment tastes have matured.
Concerts have become real social events and attendance is being inspired by their popularity in other countries. Industry executives also note that it is a great way for the audience to really check out an artist and get close to the music and the art form, an important concept for a more discerning audience. It is also active participation.
So let me pause here and clarify; the point is not that diehard fans do not go to concerts, it is that concerts have not appealed to the broader audience - those who love listening to Eason Chan Yik-shun on the radio will not queue for hours to catch a glimpse of him at a shopping centre. For the mainstream, whereas before, concerts were a hassle, even an annoyance, now they are cool and exciting. A concert for Elva Hsiao or Wang Lee-hom only comes round once a year, on average, and missing it would mean having to wait another year. It has become a must-see event.
