Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) To go commercial or stay underground? Mainstream or independent? Is working with the government a good thing? One thing is certain: Taiwan's rock festivals are at a crossroads, a seminar concluded Thursday.
The participants in the seminar titled "Retrospect on the Independent Spirit in Indie Music" came from every field related to rock festivals, including a musician, a pair of music critics, an event organizer, a music producer and a couple of government officials.
They showed common concern about the commercialization and environmental damage created by rock festivals, which with the help from the government have become one of the most popular summer activities for Taiwanese youngsters in recent years.
There has been controversy and problems with the "big three" rock festivals -- Spring Scream, Formoz Festival and the Hohaiyan Gongliau Rock Festival -- such as political interference, fighting for the same event name by government and independent organizers, drug use at the events and over-commercialization.
"The essence of a rock festival is that it is a showcase for the music industry, but the government looks at it from the tourism perspective, which leads rock festival in different directions, " according to Freddy Lin, lead singer of the band Chthonic and the man responsible for starting Formoz.
There is a fine line between adherence to the indie rock spirit and the help from government or companies, said music critic Chang Tieh-chih, with respect from sponsors for the professionalism of the artists key.
Vanya Chung of Trees Music and Art offered a different view, pointing out that it is not only "big" rock festivals that can have an impact.
"Bigger is not always better, said Chung, who has organized many of the more interesting festivals Taiwan has to offer. Sometimes smaller music festivals provide better local attachment and cultural impact. We need to stop being caught up in the numbers game of thinking that more participants make a more successful event, "she said.