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Country Profile: Hong Kong

The world’s leading promoters & the 55 top markets they operate in.
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As one of the last territories to lift all Covid restrictions, the live industry in Hong Kong has been busy playing catch-up throughout 2023.

“Since Hong Kong reopened the borders [in February], what we’ve been so conscious of is that things will eventually level out, like it has elsewhere,” says Justin Sweeting, head of music at Magnetic Asia — one of the region’s most prominent players alongside Live Nation, Lushington Entertainment, AEG, Midas Entertainment, and Eventim Live Asia. “The recent and upcoming months will see a high volume of acts coming through with varying degrees of success, so I believe it’s going to take until the end of 2024 and beyond before we get to some semblance of a ‘new normal.’”

As audiences flock back to shows after almost three years of inactivity, Sweeting’s main concerns revolve around a lack of venue options at the moment. “Several rooms inside the KITEC [Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre] will cease to operate in 2024, which will take away four regularly used spaces,” he says, adding that there is also a shortage of available roof infrastructure that can meet local wind code regulations. “It’s very well-documented in Hong Kong, and the situation could become more challenging.”

“The recent and upcoming months will see a high volume of acts coming through with varying degrees of success, so I believe it’s going to take until the end of 2024 and beyond before we get to some semblance of a ‘new normal.’”

Sweeting is also the music director and co-founder of Clockenflap – Magnetic Asia’s flagship music and arts festival. Just days after the city finally lifted its mask mandate in March, the 30,000-capacity, three-day spectacle— which Live Nation acquired a majority stake in earlier this year — celebrated its first edition since 2018 with Arctic Monkeys, Wu-Tang Clan, Bombay Bicycle Club, and 2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective among the headliners. With a second edition confirmed for December, Sweeting has every reason to feel optimistic about the festival’s future.

Meanwhile, Live Nation kicked off April with EDM extravaganza Creamfields, which featured Calvin Harris, The Chainsmokers, Tiësto, and Baauer across two days. The company also has Post Malone, Charlie Puth, Il Divo, and Keshi on the calendar — with the first two scheduled to perform at the 14,000-capacity AsiaWorld-Arena.

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