The Expo’s Benefit

A recent post on the China Music Radar blog outlined how significant the Shanghai World Expo has been for the country’s concert industry, as the government has flown artists in from all over the world to appear at the expo.

Though some of the artists played to “sparse crowds,” often they stuck around to play shows in other Shanghai venues, expanding their notoriety to a certain extent. Moreover, Shanghai music fans are “exposed to all manner of crazy foreign ‘art.’”

The problem, according to CMR, is that the artists weren’t properly promoted at the same time throughout China, since there was “no onwards Chinese or Asian touring and absolutely zero PR in local press.”

The one bright spot the blog sees in extending the effect of the Expo after it closes next month is the Mercedes Benz Arena, which is what the Shanghai Cultural Centre, built specifically for the Expo, will turn into.

AEG will operate the venue in the future and already two big tours, Wong Fei and Jacky Cheung, have been booked for a total of 10 shows at the arena in November. At press time nine were already sold out.