Soma Teams With MAO

Chinese record label Soma is planning to tie up with the people behind MAO Beijing, considered the capital’s premier live house, to open a similar venue in Shanghai, according to the Shanghaiist Web site.

At present, Soma is working with another Shanghai live house, Zhijiang Dream Factory, which allows the label exclusive use of the facilities from Wednesday to Sunday every week. However, that deal expires in August.

According to China Music Radar, Soma and MAO have been looking for a Shanghai venue for some time but so far have not revealed whether they have found one. Nevertheless, it appears that negotiations are ongoing.

MAO Beijing opened in Spring 2007 with the help of the Japanese record label Bad News, and has since become the main venue for live rock in the city.
Another Japanese investor, speaker company M.S.I, is responsible for the venue’s stellar sound system.

Consequently, expectations are high for a MAO Shanghai, as the Dream Factory arrangement is said to be disappointing. The attendance of Soma shows at Dream Factory has been lower than Soma expected.