Sold-out stadiums for global stars, empty seats for our own. Maybe it’s time to flip the script and ask: how can we build a thriving homegrown arts scene?
When Coldplay and Lady Gaga announced their tour in Singapore, tickets vanished in hours. Taylor Swift’s residency at the National Stadium turned it into a pilgrimage site for Southeast Asian fans. But when a local band has a gig, even in a mid-sized venue? The energy is worlds away. Think smaller turnouts, quieter buzz, and cheaper tickets often bundled with free drinks. Sometimes you even see promoters begging on socials: “Support local talent!”
So the question lingers – are Singaporeans just not supportive of our own? Or are we not given enough chances to do so?
The Case Against Us
Plenty of netizens are quick to say Singaporeans don’t value the arts. We’d rather spend $400 on Blackpink tickets than $40 on a homegrown act. There’s an unspoken bias that “international” means prestige and “local” is second-tier.
That kind of thinking says less about talent and more about perception. Because here’s the truth: Singapore isn’t short on good artists – we have local artists like JJ Lin and Benjamin Kheng who have gained popularity all around Asia. What we’re short on is confidence in our local arts scene, which may be a consequence of our fostered culture.
A simple search on forums shows that multiple discussions have taken place over the years about how the Singaporean culture “looks down on creatives and artists” and if the local music scene is “dead”. While that may not be written in stone, we do see it in the ticket sales. But who exactly is to blame?
The System at Play
Image Source: Unsplash
While no single factor carries all the blame, a major one is the system itself.
International acts arrive with heavyweight marketing machines, government incentives, and the best venues money can buy. They get the PR blitz, the billboards, and the headlines. And why not? Big names bring big tourism dollars.
Local artists, on the other hand, get a fraction of that visibility. Yes, there are platforms like Baybeats and SIFA, but outside of those, the spotlight is rare.
And here’s the truth: you can’t love what you never hear.
And here’s another truth: for many older or more practical-minded Singaporeans, the arts have long been seen as “not a priority.” That perception trickles down, shaping how much we value the arts as a whole. When paired with the lack of visibility, this only deepens the disconnect.
It’s not that Singaporeans don’t care. More often, we’re simply not given the chance to or are encouraged not to.
The Price Factor
Ironically, it’s cheaper to support local artists. Plays and gigs often cost a fraction of a big international ticket, at about $30 to $50 on average. Sometimes, they’re even free. And yet, they’re harder to sell.
Image source: Shutterstock
Price isn’t the barrier – perception is. A $400 Taylor Swift ticket feels like an “investment” for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, while a $30 indie gig feels optional and something you can always skip.
That shows that Singaporeans aren’t stingy. It’s just that our perception of prestige shapes our spending more than affordability does.
Will the SG Culture Pass be a game-changer?
It seems like the government is trying to combat this issue with the introduction of the SG Culture Pass, where every Singaporean adult gets $100 in credits to use on local arts and heritage programmes.
Some are hopeful this pass will spark curiosity and help us discover local talent. Others are cynical: if people weren’t buying affordable tickets before, why would they do so with this pass?
Still, I think it matters. Because exposure might change our perception. The first time you wander into a local gig because it’s “free”, you might leave with a new favourite artist. That, in itself, could be the start of support.
We can also support local acts in ways that go beyond buying a ticket. It could be streaming their music, sharing their work with our friends, or simply showing up when it matters. These small gestures add up, and over time, they help shift the communal mindset towards valuing our own talent.
What’s in store for the future?
Image source: Shutterstock
So, are Singaporeans guilty of neglecting local talent? Or is the ecosystem guilty of not giving us enough reason to show up?
I think it’s both.
Yes, due to the cultural impact of global artists, it is inevitable that we are drawn to them, and we should not feel guilty of supporting them. But we’re also products of a system that puts global acts front and centre, while local artists fight uphill for attention.
What excites me is the possibility of the in-between. Where international acts bring in the crowds, but local performers share the same stage. Where cultural vouchers are not a last-ditch effort to encourage the public to support the local arts scene, but part of a deeper, long-term investment in our own talent. Where we speak of local artists with pride, instead of scepticism and ridicule.
Because supporting local talent is more than just buying tickets. It’s about creating a kinder, more generous society where we uplift each other, celebrate the ones who try, and stop making fun of those who dare to put themselves out there on social media.
If Singapore wants to thrive it must find a way for creative and cultural business to survive – because culture is the cornerstone of identity and civil society.
If we want a scene worth being proud of, yes, we need to show up. But institutions also need to extend stronger support. Perhaps with a change in the system, paired with a shift in our own mindset towards kindness, we can steer our arts scene into something much better than it is today.
Are you willing to support local artistes?
Why not start by checking out SKM’s own single B-Greater (featuring Wheelsmith & Keyana)
You don’t force someone to eat something they don’t like. it goes for local artistes too. Giving away vouchers makes no difference. if they were good they would be playing abroad showcasing their music. A few have in the Chinese market like JJLin. in the English stream, one person stands out Jeremy Monterio. what a out the rest. it takes hard work, creativity and money. This is where the government should start first, in funding and promoting original works of local artistes and nurture them as it takes a lot more than talent alone. Not the other way round, giving $100 in credits and many not knowing who are the good local artistes. are. To be honest do we have any and how many, don’t mean any disrespect to our artistes.
As someone who is an aspiring singer songwriter who has a big dream of performing in places like Madison Square Garden someday, I’ve been on this journey for some time now and here are some of my thoughts. As someone with zero musical background, I have a passion for songwriting and found a way to make songs (though amateurish) with GarageBand and a headphone mic, the constant struggle i face is not knowing how to reach out to other fellow like minded people because i simply just don’t know how (yes I’ve been to open mics always felt like an outsider because it feels like a gated community of unless you know someone from the band or music scene it’s hard for new comer to be welcomed)
I guess what I wanna say is that I hope there’s a space for budding singer songwriters who’s just starting out to have a space to feel welcomed and I understand there’s limitation as to what government can do as there’s tons of different priorities such as rising cost of living as such but sincerely hope there’s a start, no matter how small it is.
3 Responses
You don’t force someone to eat something they don’t like. it goes for local artistes too. Giving away vouchers makes no difference. if they were good they would be playing abroad showcasing their music. A few have in the Chinese market like JJLin. in the English stream, one person stands out Jeremy Monterio. what a out the rest. it takes hard work, creativity and money. This is where the government should start first, in funding and promoting original works of local artistes and nurture them as it takes a lot more than talent alone. Not the other way round, giving $100 in credits and many not knowing who are the good local artistes. are. To be honest do we have any and how many, don’t mean any disrespect to our artistes.
As someone who is an aspiring singer songwriter who has a big dream of performing in places like Madison Square Garden someday, I’ve been on this journey for some time now and here are some of my thoughts.
As someone with zero musical background, I have a passion for songwriting and found a way to make songs (though amateurish) with GarageBand and a headphone mic, the constant struggle i face is not knowing how to reach out to other fellow like minded people because i simply just don’t know how (yes I’ve been to open mics always felt like an outsider because it feels like a gated community of unless you know someone from the band or music scene it’s hard for new comer to be welcomed)
I guess what I wanna say is that I hope there’s a space for budding singer songwriters who’s just starting out to have a space to feel welcomed and I understand there’s limitation as to what government can do as there’s tons of different priorities such as rising cost of living as such but sincerely hope there’s a start, no matter how small it is.
Drop your spotify link, I’ll support you 😀