Southeast Asia needs more regulation and investments for its cultural industries to scale, says POPS Worldwide CEO Esther Nguyen

Esther Nguyen, CEO of Vietnam-based POPS Worldwide, shared her insights on Southeast Asia’s music industry at the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 Summit in Vietnam. She highlighted the importance of bolstering the industry's growth through government support, regulations, policies, and investments. She also noted that South Korea has successfully scaled its entertainment sector and suggested that Southeast Asian countries should emulate its approach, including creating demand for local culture through parallel offerings such as merchandise and live events.

The panelists agreed that upgrading physical infrastructure, from large concert venues to smaller mid-sized spaces, is crucial for artists to grow and perform. They expressed optimism about the industry's future, noting that Vietnamese authorities have taken steps to combat piracy and fast-track an eight-year IP case, indicating a positive trend in enforcing intellectual property laws. However, they emphasized that further improvements are still needed.