Entertainment pivots: Concert organiser lets fans live out pop star dreams

SINGAPORE - Since the pandemic started, event organiser CK Star Entertainment Singapore has seen its concert promotion business drop from at least one event a month to zero.

In the past year, it had to cancel shows by popular international acts such as Taiwanese singer Yoga Lin at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and American smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G at Sands Theatre.

Instead of throwing in the towel, the company now focuses on providing a different set of experiences for music fans.

In December, it started offering packages that let fans live out their pop star dreams.

With its Star Studio Recording Experience, fans turn into recording artistes. Priced at $288 for two, they get to record their own songs or cover tunes in a music studio with professional producers and engineers.

It has also launched a Celebrity Live Stage Experience, where fans get to perform two songs on stage at *Scape Live! Studio backed by professional musicians.

They get the complete package: fancy stage lighting, customised LED wall backdrop and even a chance to hang out at the dressing room before they take to the stage. This package is priced at $799 for up to two fans, each additional participant pays $99.

These new businesses allow CK Star Entertainment to continue engaging both music fans and business partners, says CK Star Entertainment's director and founder Cindy Karim.

The Celebrity Live Stage Experience, for example, takes place at event venue *Scape Live! Studio and uses equipment provided by live music solutions provider Ebenex Music (EBX).

"We wanted to give back to the community and give back to the industry," she says. "We talked to many of our partners and everyone is telling us the same story. They have almost zero revenue from events.

"We also know that people really want something they can do to reconnect back with music, with live events."

She adds that the offerings have generated a lot of interest and the company has had "double digit" bookings so far.

Recording a song in the studio for the first time was "an eye-opening experience", says music fan Lim Jian Sheng.

The 23-year-old, together with fellow music fan Megan Han, 19, recorded a version of Nan Ren Nu Ren (Man, Woman) by Taiwanese singer Valen Hsu and Chinese singer Amulong.

The two university students worked with music producer and musician Mark Shi at a studio in Kaki Bukit.

Says Mr Lim: "I was nervous at the start but the music producer was very patient with me and guided me throughout, which made the process very enjoyable and stress-free."

According to Ms Karim, CK Star Entertainment does not make a profit from the two new ventures.

She says: "We don't mind taking on a bit of losses because what we really want to do with these is to try to give some business and activities back to our partners."

CK Star Entertainment was formed in Indonesia in 2001 and opened its Singapore office in 2018. Its two other offices are in Jakarta and Medan.

The company also kept busy in the past year with other projects. It opened a new venue in Medan for banquets and concerts, and also provided marketing services for companies in South Korea and China promoting their artistes in the region.

Despite the dip in the concert business, the company has not had to let go of any of its 15 permanent staff, including five in Singapore.

"We have given a commitment and promise to our team. We can't be who we are without our very good team behind us," says Ms Karim.

The company had help from the Singapore Government's Jobs Support Scheme for local staff, who have been upgrading their skills and undergoing training through another government programme, SkillsFuture.

While live concerts with limited audiences are back, Ms Karim says her company will only start staging shows again if the rules allow for an audience size of at least 1,000.

She hopes to stage concerts by international acts in the second half of 2021 and says they are in talks with their global partners.

"Some of them have expressed interest in coming to Singapore, we actually have a lot of events in the pipeline on standby," she says, adding that details are still confidential.

Go to this website for more information on CK Star Entertainment's Star Studio Recording Experience and Celebrity Live Stage Experience.