MACA Visits Cultural Affairs Bureau to Promote Macao's Performing Arts and Copyright Development

(Macao, January 23, 2025) – On January 23rd, Chairman of the Macau Association of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (MACA), Mr. João Kruss Gomes, accompanied by a delegation of four, visited the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau. The delegation was received by the Acting Director of the Cultural and Creative Industries Promotion Department, Mr. Lo Chon Hou; Acting Head of the Cultural and Recreational Activities Department, Ms. Chau Pui Man. Both parties discussed how to promote Macao's performing arts industry and the development of music copyright. This meeting underscored the mutual emphasis on music copyright work and performing arts under the "Law-based Macao," "Vibrant Macao," "Cultural Macao," and "Blissful Macao" visions of the new Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Sam Hou Fai. It also highlighted the critical role of music copyright in the flourishing concert economy of Macao.

Mr. João Kruss Gomes expressed his gratitude to the Macao SAR Government for its support in developing music copyright and performing arts culture. He also introduced MACA's recent activities and upcoming events in 2025. These include the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Collective Management of Copyright in Music Works Forum, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Song Writers Quest, the Greater Bay Area Youth Music Creation Camp, the MACA Music Scholarship Award Ceremony, the MACA Copyright Campus Tour, and the MACA Studio Workshop. In advancing music creation and cultural exchange, MACA has actively adopted the "bringing in and going global" policy, enhancing cooperation with collective management organizations across the Greater Bay Area. MACA is committed to organizing various music and cultural events within the region to raise the profile of Macao's original music while improving its quantity and quality. Additionally, MACA has consistently been working to resolving copyright issues for all music events and concerts held in Macao. It provides convenient copyright licensing services for music users and strengthens the protection of the rights and interests of music creators.

Acting Director of the Cultural and Creative Industries Promotion Department, Mr. Lo Chon Hou, warmly welcomed the delegation from MACA during their visit and expressed his support for music creation and copyright protection efforts. He emphasized the importance of working together to build a “City of Performing Arts” and to promote the healthy development of Macao’s concert and music industry. As Macao’s concert industry rapidly rises, the frequency and scale of large music performances have been increasing, making the issue of music copyright even more significant. During the meeting, both parties focused particularly on the music copyright issues related to the 50,000-capacity “Macao Outdoor Performance Venue” and engaged in detailed discussions. The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that when the government makes the guidelines for the use of the "Macao Outdoor Performance Venue," it will implement relevant policies regarding music copyrights, providing a more solid foundation for the development of Macao's cultural industry. Both sides agreed that strengthening the management and protection of music copyrights in the operation of large performance venues not only helps align with international management models but also enhances Macao’s cultural image as a world tourism and leisure center. This, in turn, attracts more renowned domestic and international stars to host large-scale performances in Macao.

This meeting marks a new phase in the work of music copyright in Macao and demonstrates the joint efforts of the government and the industry to enhance Macao's reputation as the "City of Performing Arts." In the future, MACA will continue to work hard to promote music copyright protection and the development of the cultural and creative industries.

Photo caption : Group photo of attended guests