MAMA's Making Rounds In Asia

Kpop lovers in Asia have more reason to celebrate now that Mnet Asia Music Awards ( affectionately   dubbed MAMA) has ambitions to be the "Grammys ofis  the East" and  is holding its award ceremonies outside Korea.



Last year,  the 12th MAMA was held in Macau. This year, Singaporean fans as well as well-heeled neighbours from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand can scream their hearts out at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on the 29th November to welcome their favourite Kpop idols. Consolation for those who can't book their tickets to Singapore, MAMA 2011 will be broadcasted in 19 countries, including live in Korea, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia.

The line-up will probably include appearances by nominees such as TVXQ, B2ST, Big Bang, Super Junior,2PM,  Brown Eyed Girls, Girls’ Generation, Kara, 2NE1, Kim Hyun-joong, Park Jae-beom, Jang Woo-hyuk, HyunA and G.NA.

That Singapore's Mediacorp and the Singapore Tourism Board is using the pop culture of another country to boost its own tourism industry isn't anything new. Think Universal Studios on Sentosa which has just recently announced a hike in entrance fees.  If things work well in Singapore, MAMA will probably do the rounds and visit China, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia in the future. Imagine MAMA set against the backdrop of the Twin Towers in KLCC or the Shanghai Bund. Question is: What happened to MAMA attracting Kpop lovers to Korea? What has KTO to say to MAMA's ties with tourism promotion boards of other countries?

source:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/11/143_97807.html