TAIPEI — It wasn’t just another industry mixer. On Sept. 17, Zepp New Taipei lit up with GAN BEI 乾杯 – The Thailand Music Industry Showcase, a one-day cultural collision that blended deal-making with dance-floor energy.
Hosted by Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) with support from Taiwan’s Cultural Content Institute (TAICCA), the showcase doubled as both a business summit and a party. Eleven Thai labels — from indie staples like Small Room and What The Duck to majors including Sony, Universal, and Warner Music Thailand — flew in to court Taiwan promoters, festival organizers, and industry insiders.
The day started with back-to-back business matchmaking sessions, where executives hashed out future collaborations. But as the sun set, the vibe shifted. By 6:30 p.m., Zepp turned into a cross-border concert hall. Fans packed in for a triple-threat Thai lineup: STGZ with their modern spin on Thai culture, the high-voltage UNTRYMAEW (危險貓), and new-gen crowd-pleasers H3F. Taiwan’s own indie darlings 紙鳶 (Seizer) shared the stage, in what many hope will be the opening of a new chapter in Taiwan-Thai music ties.
DITP’s Director-General Thawatchai Ratchapakdee set the tone earlier in the day: “Music is an international language. It bridges cultures, and it builds business.” The goal, he stressed, is to push Thai acts further onto the global stage while building a sustainable network of cross-Asian music partnerships.
The response was literally louder than expected as the late-night jam session turned into a full-scale party; fans cheering for encores. Organizers say the fans will get their wish for more, and soon. Investors could also soon be seeing big money as Thailand’s hottest soft-power exports deliver beats and Bhat.
