#SHOWBIZ: Yusry eyes global stage for Southeast Asian music

Datuk Yusry Abdul Halim, a celebrated singer and composer, believes the Southeast Asian music industry is primed for global recognition, drawing inspiration from the international success of South Korean music. His perspective comes after his participation in Launchpad, a performance platform that connects artists with audiences and media across the region.

With a 34-year career in music, Yusry views this as a crucial chance to bridge generational gaps and broaden his audience base. He addressed the challenges posed by language and cultural differences, asserting that modern listeners are not hindered by these barriers. Korean music, for instance, has demonstrated that music transcends language, as his children, who do not understand Korean, still enjoy listening to it.

Yusry further emphasized that today's generation readily accepts music as a universal language, where understanding the music itself negates the necessity of understanding the language. He also stressed the importance of artists adapting to their audience to maintain relevance, advocating for collaboration between established musicians and emerging talents to create a unified Southeast Asian music market.

Supported by entities like Fast Track Entertainment and Sony Music Malaysia, Launchpad seeks to create new commercial opportunities and assist artists in expanding their careers beyond their home countries.