ICA-Live-Asia boss hails Summer Sonic’s Thai debut
ICA-Live-Asia president Tommy Jinho Yoon tells IQ he is planning to launch a new festival after working on the debut edition of Summer Sonic Bangkok.
Yoon partnered with promoter Creativeman on the two-day event, which was held from 24-25 August at the 12,000-cap Impact Challenger Hall in Muang Thong Thani, Thailand.
Headlined by OneRepublic and Lauv, the lineup included further overseas stars such as Laufey, Aurora, Suede and Nothing But Thieves. Ticket prices ranged from 3,500 (€89) to 11,000 (€278) for a one-day pass, and 6,500 (€164) to 20,000 (€506) for two-day entry.
“Summer Sonic Bangkok 2024 went extremely well, especially with it being its first year in Bangkok,” says Yoon. “This was the very first time Summer Sonic was officially licensed anywhere outside of Japan.”
Aside from numerous upcoming headline shows throughout the continent, Yoon reveals his company has a brand-new event in Seoul, South Korea, in the offing – the name of which will be confirmed shortly.
Yoon is also international artist programmer for Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival – the first major festival of its type to be established in Korea back in 1999 – plus Yoursummer and Legend of the Guardian Festival.
He launched US-based ICA to cater to the growing demand for live events in Korea, China, Asia and the Philippines, and created a mini-Asian tour for Britpop icons Suede, taking in KBS Arena in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, and Zepp Kuala Lumpur, alongside their slot at Summer Sonic Bangkok.
“Most territories in Asia have limitations on how high ticket prices can go”
“They did extremely well in Seoul, selling out, and also had a great performance at our festival in Bangkok, but faced some difficulties in Kuala Lumpur,” explains Yoon. “Like Europe, territories in Asia differ, and international artists have specific markets that work for them and others that don’t.
“To put it simply, the overall market for international artists in Asia is generally positive at the moment. We anticipate even more positive outcomes as the market continues to expand.”
According to Yoon, current challenges include increased competition among promoters in the region, “leading to bidding wars and higher artist fees”.
“Most territories in Asia have limitations on how high ticket prices can go,” he continues. “For example, in Korea, there is no concept of overpriced or high-priced VIP tickets. On the opportunity side, the international music scene is becoming more mainstream, with audiences expecting more shows and tours to enter the market. Ticket sales are generally reflecting these positive trends.”
And Yoon, who hosted a panel on K-pop at last year’s International Live Music Conference (ILMC) in London, says there are few signs of the phenomenon dying down any time soon.
“K-pop is still going strong globally and has expanded even further on a global scale,” he adds. “On the domestic scene, it has diminished slightly. But with foreigners entering Korea and becoming the primary ticket buyers, the market remains strong.”
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Thailand imports another international festival brand
Thailand is set to import a second international festival brand after securing a deal with Belgium’s Tomorrowland.
The renowned EDM event will plant its flag in the Southeast Asian country in 2026 and may take place for another nine consecutive editions, according to the Thai government.
The news comes shortly after Japan’s Summer Sonic announced a new edition in Bangkok, taking place on 24 and 25 August at the Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani.
The first wave of artists for the festival, revealed today, comprises Lauv, Yoasobi, Laufey, Aurora, Bodyslam, Baby Metal, F.Hero, Nothing But Thieves, Bright, Henry Moodie and V Violette.
The Thai government recently revealed ambitions to become a ‘strong hub’ for international concerts and festivals, in a bid to increase event-driven tourism.
Prime minister Srettha Thavisin said he has taken inspiration from Singapore’s reported exclusivity deal with Taylor Swift to make the island nation her only Eras tour stop in Southeast Asia.
Rnowned EDM event Tomorrowland may take place in Thailand for 10 consecutive editions
Further details of Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 are yet to be announced. The festival, which is organised by We Are One World, sells 400,000 tickets for the last two weekends of July in Belgium.
Since its debut in 2005, Tomorrowland has hosted spin-off events such as TomorrowWorld in Atlanta, Tomorrowland in Brazil, and Tomorrowland Winter in France. The brand recently announced a new 10,000-capacity festival in Colombia, in collaboration with Breakfast Live.
Tickets for the 20th-anniversary edition of Tomorrowland’s flagship Belgian festival sold out in less than a day.
The electronic music extravaganza will welcome 400,000 ticket holders across two weekends to Boom, in the province of Antwerp, from 19-21 and 26-28 July.
More than 400 acts including Armin van Buuren, Amelie Lens, Bonobo B2B Dixon, David Guetta, ANNA, Vintage Culture, Tale Of Us, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Solomun B2B Four Tet and Swedish House Mafia will appear across 16 stages.
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Thailand reveals plan to attract A-list artists
The Thailand government has revealed ambitions to become a ‘strong hub’ for international concerts and festivals.
Prime minister Srettha Thavisin said he wants to follow suit with Singapore’s reported exclusivity deal with Taylor Swift to make the island nation her only Eras tour stop in Southeast Asia.
The government plans to meet top record companies and promoters, such as Tero Entertainment, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, to investigate how the country can better facilitate such events for artists, crews and concertgoers.
Tourism and sports minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said investment in infrastructure might be necessary if the private sector agreed that it was essential for hosting events, such as a large-scale indoor concert hall, which Thailand still lacks.
“Before investing a fortune, we must understand the whole structure of the current market and clear existing obstacles to make our investment worthwhile,” she said. “Economic benefits are quite high, as we saw from the period during international concerts in Thailand this year. Daily arrivals shot up to 140,000 per day, from an average of 100,000 per day.”
“Before investing a fortune, we must understand the whole structure of the current market”
One concern about Thailand’s ability to host overseas concertgoers – who reportedly spend three times more than general tourists – is the public transport system, which does not extend to every neighbourhood in the city and results in taxi companies overcharging customers.
“All major venues have been facing such prolonged problems of overcharging,” said Chakkarin Aungpratip from BITEC Management, the operator of Bitec Hall.
Aungpratip believes that, aside from some infrastructure issues, Thailand stands among the top destinations for international tourists due to tourism attractions, Thai food, a wide range of accommodation and friendly LGBT+ laws.
Thailand isn’t the only Southeast Asian country that has reacted to Singapore’s deal with Taylor Swift. A lawmaker in the Philippines has criticised the island nation for the arrangement, urging the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to formally protest against the grant.
However, the rep acknowledged that the “policy worked” for Singapore but said the Philippines needed to improve its infrastructure to be able to host global superstars.
“In the long run, though, we need to step up our game,” he added.
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Singapore ‘sought exclusivity’ over Swift gigs
Thailand’s prime minister has caused a stir after claiming Singapore sought an exclusivity deal with Taylor Swift to prevent the singer from performing any other Eras tour dates in south-east Asia.
The Eras Tour lands at the 55,000-cap Singapore National Stadium for six nights from 2-4 & 7-9 March – its only concerts in the region.
During his keynote address at the iBusiness Forum 2024 in Bangkok, Thai PM Srettha Thavisin alleged he was told the Singapore government offered $2 million to $3m (€1.4m to €2.1m) per show as part of the arrangement, after enquiring why the tour would not be stopping in Thailand.
“[Promoter AEG] didn’t tell me the exact figure but they said the Singapore government offers subsidies of between $2m and $3m,” said Srettha, as per the Guardian. “But the Singaporean government is clever. They told [organisers] not to hold any other shows in [south-east] Asia.”
“Concerts can generate added value for the economy”
AEG and the Singapore government are yet to comment on Thavisin’s claim.
According to Sky News, the PM continued: “If [Swift] came to Thailand, it would have been cheaper to organise it here, and I believe she would be able to attract more sponsors and tourists to Thailand. Even though we would have to subsidise at least 500m baht [€13m], it would be worth it.
“If I had known this, I would have brought the shows to Thailand. Concerts can generate added value for the economy.”
The Eras trek, which also included four nights in Asia at Japan’s Tokyo Dome from 7-10 February, is currently in Australia, where Swift performed to 288,000 fans across three shows at Melbourne Cricket Ground this past weekend. It moves on to Sydney’s Accor Stadium for four gigs from 23-26 February.
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Ed Sheeran headlines Thailand’s UOB Live opening
A special one-night-only concert by Ed Sheeran launched the new UOB Live venue in Thailand on Sunday (11 February).
Managed by ASM Global, the 6,000-cap venue promises to “reshape the live entertainment landscape” in the region and is located on the sixth floor of The Emsphere shopping mall in Bangkok.
The intimate performance followed Sheeran’s sold-out + – = ÷ x (Mathematics) Tour stop at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium the previous evening.
“This event truly showcased the potential of our venue to deliver exceptional experiences for both artists and audiences”
“We are thrilled with the success of Ed Sheeran’s exclusive concert at UOB Live,” says Craig Grossarth, general manager of UOB Live. “This event truly showcased the potential of our venue to deliver exceptional experiences for both artists and audiences. We look forward to welcoming many more iconic acts to UOB Live in the future.”
Upcoming concerts at the theatre include Slot Machine, Tom Jones, Jeff Satur and Radwimps.
AEG Global Partnerships brokered a naming rights partnership for the venue with The EM District and UOB last summer. The EM District is a renowned developer of premier retail and entertainment complexes in Thailand, while UOB is a leading bank in Asia.
“This is a transformative partnership that will usher in a new era of entertainment”
“This is a transformative partnership that will usher in a new era of entertainment,” said AEG Asia Pacific president and CEO Adam Wilkes at the time. “UOB Live symbolises the future, offering guests unparalleled live experiences. Our partnership with UOB and The EM District signifies a significant step forward in delivering world-class events and unforgettable moments to audiences in Thailand and beyond.”
Bacardi and Volvo have also signed deals to become the first founding partners, with both to have a large-scale brand presence and partnerships across the venue, with Bacardi becoming the exclusive beverage partner and Volvo becoming the exclusive automotive partner.
AEG also secured a 10-year deal between IG Group and the Aichi International Arena Company for IG Group to take the naming rights for the new 17,000-seat arena currently under construction in Nagoya Japan, which will be known as the IG Arena. The partnership is one of the largest-ever naming rights agreements in the APAC region.
As part of the Asia leg of his tour, Sheeran will play another intimate gig at the 1,000-cap Capitol Theatre in Singapore on 17 February – a day after his show at Singapore National Stadium.
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AEG Global Partnerships seals APAC venue link-ups
AEG Global Partnerships has secured new link-ups with IG Group, Bacardi and Volvo at its live events venues in Japan and Thailand.
IG Group has taken the naming rights for the new 17,000-seat arena currently under construction in Nagoya Japan, which will now be known as the IG Arena.
The 10-year deal between IG Group, the Aichi International Arena Company and AEG Global Partnerships is one of the largest-ever naming rights agreements in the APAC region. It comes just six months after AEG joined forces with The EM District and UOB to seal a similar deal for new Thailand live entertainment venue UOB Live, which opens this weekend.
Bacardi and Volvo have also signed deals to become the first founding partners at UOB Live, with both to have a large-scale brand presence and partnerships across the venue, with Bacardi becoming the exclusive beverage partner and Volvo becoming the exclusive automotive partner.
“We are proud to align UOB LIVE with two of the world’s most iconic, global brands – Bacardi and Volvo, each of which is best-in-class in their respective industries,” adds says Grossarth, general manager of UOB LIVE. “Their commitment to excellence matches ours and will help us amplify the world-class experiences that our guests can expect when they visit our venue.”
“Together, we will be able to enhance fans’ world-class experiences at our state-of-the-art venues, while offering opportunities for brands”
UOB LIVE launches on Sunday (11 February) with a specially tailored one-night-only concert produced and performed by Ed Sheeran. The venue, which promises to “reshape the live entertainment landscape” in the region, will be located at The Emsphere shopping mall in Bangkok and will be managed by ASM Global.
“IG Group, Bacardi and Volvo are all world leaders in their respective industries, and their commitment to excellence matches our own,” says Matthew Zweck, AEG Global Partnerships VP – Asia-Pacific. “Together, we will be able to enhance fans’ world-class experiences at our state-of-the-art venues, while offering opportunities for brands to excite, engage and reward both existing and prospective customers.”
Over the past 12 months, AEG Global Partnerships has signed new agreements across Japan, China, Thailand and Singapore worth $100 million – and growth is expected to continue throughout 2024 and into 2025. Further new AEG venues are already under construction in Osaka, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea, with AEG Global Partnerships poised to extend further naming rights and sponsorship agreements.
“The live entertainment industry in the APAC region is going from strength to strength and, as part of AEG, we can offer unrivalled naming rights and venue partnership opportunities at some of the best venues in the world,” says AEG Global Partnerships EVP Paul Samuels. “We are constantly reimagining partnerships, creating bespoke, integrated strategies designed to meet brands’ objectives, while enhancing fans’ experiences at some of the world’s leading venues.”
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Japan’s Summer Sonic to launch in Bangkok
Summer Sonic, one of Japan’s biggest international festivals, is expanding to Bangkok this year.
The Creativeman-promoted festival will land in Thailand’s capital between 24 and 25 August, taking place at the Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani.
“As another challenge in 2024, Summer Sonic will finally expand overseas,” wrote Creativeman CEO Naoki Shimizu on the festival’s website.
“Nowadays, overseas festivals are spreading to various regions and achieving success, and Korean artists are active all over the world, so we are starting Summer Sonic Bangkok as a way for Japan to connect with the world through music. We will aim for a more attractive and powerful lineup by booking great artists in both countries.”
The first wave of acts for Summer Sonic Bangkok will be announced around late January/early February, according to organisers.
The last edition of Summer Sonic that took place outside of Japan was Summer Sonic Shanghai in 2017. It featured a line-up headlined by Luna Sea, followed by The Kooks, Placebo, Nothing But Thieves, Sum 41, Travis, The Fratellis, and more.
“We are starting Summer Sonic Bangkok as a way for Japan to connect with the world through music”
In 2023, Summer Sonic festival took place in Tokyo’s Zozomarine Stadium and Makuhari Messe and Osaka’s Maishima Sonic Park between 19 and 20 August, and was headlined by Blur and Kendrick Lamar.
NewJeans, ENHYPHEN, Sunset Rollercoaster, Evanescence, Two Door Cinema Club, Wet Leg, The Kid LAROI and Maisie Peters were also on the bill.
Summer Sonic celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019, attracting a record 300,000 people across the two sites. The pandemic ensured the festival did not take place again until 2022, when international acts accounted for just 40% of its offering due to stringent pandemic travel restrictions, and the capacities of the twin sites were reduced.
The Japanese government announced a relaxation of its longstanding ban on cheering at concerts and sporting events at the start of 2023, along with a reclassification of Covid-19’s disease status.
However, Shimizu recently told IQ that the flagship event would continue its focus on Japanese acts amid a rise in domestic festival-goers.
Summer Sonic will return to its longstanding locations in Tokyo and Osaka between 17 and 18 August 2024.
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AEG unveils naming rights deal for Bangkok venue
AEG has joined forces with The EM District and UOB to seal a naming rights partnership for a new 6,000-cap venue in Thailand.
UOB Live, which promises to “reshape the live entertainment landscape” in the region, will be located at The Emsphere shopping mall in Bangkok and will be managed by ASM Global, with a remit to attract leading international performers and sporting events to the country.
The EM District is a renowned developer of premier retail and entertainment complexes in Thailand, while UOB is a leading bank in Asia.
“This is a transformative partnership that will usher in a new era of entertainment,” says AEG Asia Pacific president and CEO Adam Wilkes. “UOB Live symbolises the future, offering guests unparalleled live experiences. Our partnership with UOB and The EM District signifies a significant step forward in delivering world-class events and unforgettable moments to audiences in Thailand and beyond.
“We want to thank The Mall Group, The EM District and AEG’s Global Partnership team for their collaboration on this historic agreement which will have a significant impact on the live industry.”
“With AEG’s global expertise and The EM District’s leadership position in the local market, we will redefine the entertainment landscape in Southeast Asia”
The naming rights deal was brokered by AEG Global Partnerships. Further details about UOB Live’s offerings, including its grand opening date, will be announced in the coming months.
“UOB Live marks a significant leap in transforming live entertainment for our customers,” says Tan Choon Hin, president and CEO of UOB Thailand. “With AEG’s global expertise and The EM District’s leadership position in the local market, we will redefine the entertainment landscape in Southeast Asia.
“UOB Live goes beyond a mere venue; it will serve as an immersive platform, uniting diverse communities through the universal language of entertainment. UOB strives to provide an unparalleled customer experience that caters to different preferences and lifestyles, and UOB Live will be the bank’s latest embodiment of this. Through this first-of-its-kind partnership, we are confident that our customers, both in Thailand and across the region, will be able to enjoy a retail and entertainment experience that is unmatched anywhere else.
“More importantly, UOB Live exemplifies our commitment to the Kingdom of Thailand. As a bank with deep-rooted ties to ASEAN, we believe in the need to contribute to the development of the economies we operate in. UOB Live will serve as a beacon of innovation and culture, resonating both locally and across the region.”
“This partnership with AEG and UOB underlines our shared commitment to innovation, creativity, and excellence”
Supaluck Umpujh, chair of The Mall Group and The EM District, adds: “The EM District together with UOB and AEG are joining forces with the shared vision of revolutionising the country’s business, retail and entertainment centres, placing Bangkok and Thailand at the forefront of world retail innovation, entertainment events, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and new lifestyle experiences,
“UOB Live, along with The Emsphere’s retail experiences from world renowned brands, prominent dining experiences, multi-cultural and entertainment complexes with world-class facilities, is set to establish new standards for the regional live entertainment scene.
“It’s an integral component of our EM District vision, which centres around curating exceptional experiences in retail, entertainment, and lifestyle within a single location. This partnership with AEG and UOB underlines our shared commitment to innovation, creativity, and excellence.”
Read more about Thailand’s live entertainment ambitions in the 2023 Global Arena Guide, out now.
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Two dead after Thailand’s Wonderfruit Festival
At least two attendees of last weekend’s Wonderfruit Festival in Thailand have been reported dead, according to local reports.
Swiss national Guillaume Wyss, better known as Bangkok-based DJ Boogie G, was found unresponsive on the festival grounds on the morning of 16 December, with witnesses reporting that an associate attempted to wake him before resuscitation attempts from medics on the grounds failed.
Wyss, who played an early Friday morning set at the festival from midnight to 2 am, was taken to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital at 5 am and pronounced dead, according to Coconuts Bangkok.
“We’re devastated by the loss of our husband, father, son, brother and friend Guillaume Wyss aka Boogie G,” his wife Pich Wyss wrote on social media. “He was loved and he loved you all.”
A veteran in Bangkok’s underground music scene, Wyss was a founding partner of Preduce Skateboards and hosted a slew of popular nightlife events such as the long-running Nite Ride series at Studio Lam. Wyss founded party promoters Music Makes Me High and Qommon and also performed regularly at venues and events such as Tropic City and Transport.
“The investigations are underway to determine the cause of death”
Indonesian national Kimo Rusna, who opened Bali’s first wake park, was also pronounced dead after being brought to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital from the festival. His wife Dewa Sri Luce Rusna told the Coconuts Bangkok: “He died at hospital because of a heart attack. We are currently in grieving. Thank you so much for the attention.”
Deputy Station Chief Lt. Col. Anuchet Katsomboon told the publication that witnesses had reported seeing Rusna fall from the stands to the grounds at one of the festival venues, with preliminary investigations determining that the wakeboarder was under the influence of drugs or narcotics. An autopsy is underway.
Lt. Ying Siriyakorn of Chonburi’s Nong Prue police said today they were investigating one death and looking into reports of other fatalities.
“We are deeply saddened to have learnt that two attendees who fell ill at Friday’s night’s Wonderfruit passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and Pattaya Memorial Hospital,” spokesperson Muanprae Wannasri said in a statement. “The investigations are underway to determine the cause of death. Wonderfruit are working closely with the authorities to help with any queries.”
“Both cases had been very quickly brought to the attention of on-site medical staff, who assessed and treated the patients immediately, before they were taken by ambulance to the hospital,” the festival wrote.
The 7th edition of Wonderfruit Festival took place at The Fields at Siam Country Club in Pattaya between 15 and 18 December, and was attended by 25,000 people.
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AEG Global Partnerships expands into Asia Pacific
AEG Global Partnerships has announced an expansion into Asia Pacific (APAC), led by newly appointed vice president Matthew Zweck.
The industry veteran and 10-year AEG Global Partnerships executive will focus on developing strategic partnerships for the company’s portfolio of assets in Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Australia.
Based in the company’s Australian headquarters in Melbourne, Zweck and his team will be responsible for sales and servicing of brand collaborations with partners for AEG’s collection of assets in the region.
This includes recently announced projects such as Em Live, a 6,000-seat theatre that will anchor a new entertainment district in Bangkok, as well as new, state-of-the-art multi-purpose arena projects in Nagoya and Osaka, Japan, in addition to a new 20,000-seat arena in Seoul, Korea.
The new regional office will also oversee partnerships and innovative marketing programs for assets such Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena, and work with JV partner Mushroom for concert tours, festivals and other live entertainment properties produced by Frontier Touring.
Speaking on the expansion, Paul Samuels, executive VP of AEG Global Partnerships, says: “With a world-class network of more than 350 owned and affiliated venues, sports and music brands, our Global Partnerships business is unmatched in terms of our ability to offer partners access to platforms that cut through the clutter and create innovative campaigns and sponsorships that enable brands to build deeper relationships with their customers.
AEG’s Global Partnerships team is responsible for generating more than US$550 million in annual revenues
“Having worked with him for more than a decade, I’m thrilled to announce Matthew’s appointment and excited to see the growth and value he drives on the ground for not only our business, but for our future business partners across APAC.”
AEG’s Global Partnerships team is responsible for generating more than US$550 million in annual revenues and more than US$2 billion in contractually obligated income.
With a dedicated footprint and headcount based in Australia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, the expansion of the Global Partnerships team mirrors the overall expansion of AEG’s business into Asia-Pacific.
Adam Wilkes, AEG Asia Pacific president & CEO, says: “The exponential growth of the APAC entertainment market is one I have been privileged to witness first-hand for over two decades. From first entering the market off the back off the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, our Asia Pacific business has gone from strength to strength and as we look to continue our investment footprint in this pivotal region, I am thrilled to have Matthew on hand to lead our Global Partnerships business on this new journey.”
Acting as an internal agency for AEG and AEG Presents, Global Partnerships oversees worldwide sponsorship sales and activation for over 135 properties across five continents, including venues, sports franchises, events, tours, festivals and digital content.
Notable deals include the naming rights of venues such as the O2 and the Mercedes-Benz Arenas – both the Berlin and Shanghai venues – to activations including the annual American Express presents BST Hyde Park festival, Luno presents All Points East and team sponsorship for Eisbären Ice Hockey teams.
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