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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/World Music Festival) |
The 2024 World Music Festival @Taiwan (WMFT) is off to a great start as it announces the opening of its Showcase applications, accepting submissions until May 25, 2024. Embarking on its 8th edition, the highly anticipated event is scheduled to unfold from October 11-13, 2024 across three stages at Taipei’s premier musical venue. This year’s event promises to build upon the resounding success of previous years. Notably, artists from last year’s festival are invited to perform at renowned showcase festivals worldwide this year including Colours Of Ostrava (CZ), Tallinn Music Week (EE), Seoul Music Week (KR), and beyond, thereby etching a new chapter for diverse music on the global stage.
Under the banner theme “GROOVE TO YOUR ADDICTION", this year’s festival aims to explore the intricate relationship between artists and audiences, delving deep into three distinct facets: Hooked On Music, Immersed In Music, and Touched By Music. WMFT remains dedicated to curating diverse musical experiences while providing a professional platform for burgeoning global talents. Excitingly, the selection process now boasts 16 showcases, comprising nine from Taiwan and seven from overseas. To ensure a fair competition, applications are divided into two categories: Jury Selection and New Talents, catering to emerging artists of varying degrees and ages who are seeking discovery and cultivation.
The 2024 WMFT proudly welcomes 15 esteemed international experts from across the music industry and the first wave of these experts are comprised of Darek Mazzone from KEXP, Filip Košťálek and Zlata Holušová from Colours of Ostrava, Martyna van Nieuwland from Music Meeting Festival, Noda Ryuji from Music Lane Festival Okinawa, Phuong Le from Wonderfruit Festival, Takuya Salam Unagam from NHK, and Umair Jaffar from Small World Music Festival. Participating in face-to-face sessions with artists such as Speed Meetings, Networking, and Industry Conferences, these industry stalwarts not only explore opportunities for emerging talent but also impart invaluable insights to participants.
Reflecting on her experience at the 2023 WMFT, Minna Huuskonen, founder of Minnamurra Music, shared, “I was especially interested in the indigenous music and was amazed how the small island captures many areas of flourishing musical life.” The WMFT offers musicians a golden opportunity to captivate both Asian audiences and international industry experts with their exceptional skills. Through years of fostering diversity and excellence, it has solidified its position as an indispensable music festival in East Asia. Applications are now open to independent and emerging artists worldwide with final results slated to be announced on June 19, 2024.
