SINGAPORE'S MUSIC INDUSTRY IN THE 60s

EARNING A LIVING

Professional musicians who are in the industry in Singapore realise that one road to a larger pay cheque is to record in Chinese or Malay as there are millions of listeners from China, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia. Similarities occur in other countries in the South East Asian region where populations have their own fan base.

Without such a backdrop, the livelihood of many band members are at stake, as discriminating but ardent fans of popular English songs prefer to buy originals from the U.S., England, Europe or Australia.

But whatever the song or language, the pirates are always around to exploit the industry and its professional musicians.

(Image: from David Greenfield Collection.)