Conductor Dong Quang Vinh presented a performance featuring multiple instruments, aiming to emphasize that the same piece of music can be expressed in many different ways - Photo: HAI DUONG
Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.vietnam.vn
Conductor Dong Quang Vinh presented a performance featuring multiple instruments, aiming to emphasize that the same piece of music can be expressed in many different ways – Photo: HAI DUONG
The VPOP-NEXT: Technology Meets Soul event recently took place in Ho Chi Minh City.
The three speakers, including conductor Dong Quang Vinh, Danny Sim – former Vice President of International Marketing at Universal Music China, and Liu Mengxuan, representative of TikTok Live Vietnam, shared their perspectives on the impact of technology on the music industry.
The discussions focused on three aspects: the role of artistic thinking in creativity, the ability to connect artists with audiences through digital platforms, and maintaining the lasting value of a work after it has been received by the public.
Preserving musical identity amidst the wave of technology.
Conductor Dong Quang Vinh believes that the same piece of music can evoke different experiences depending on how the artist interprets it.
According to him, technologies like GarageBand, Logic Pro, or FL Studio can support the creative and production process, but they don’t determine an artist’s success.
“Technology is great, but it doesn’t determine whether you can succeed or not. It depends on you, your understanding of music, your knowledge base, and your learning process,” he said.
Musician Dong Quang Vinh performs flute, showcasing the timbre of traditional musical instruments at the VPOP-NEXT: Technology Meets Soul event – Video : LAN HUONG
He also emphasized the potential for combining traditional Vietnamese music with contemporary genres such as rap, electronic music, and classical music to create products with a unique identity.
From an industry perspective, Danny Sim mentioned developing the music market towards genre diversity and building a community of audiences.
He argued that while technology and AI open up many new possibilities, human creativity and authenticity in culture remain the most important factors.
“A hit song can be a good starting point, but a healthy ecosystem is what helps music continue to spread and endure over time,” he said.
A representative from TikTok Live Vietnam shared insights on the role of digital platforms in encouraging audiences to discover music – Photo: HAI DUONG
Ms. Liu Mengxuan, representative of TikTok Live Vietnam, shared about the role of digital platforms in bringing music closer to the public. Short videos help audiences discover new songs and artists, while livestreaming creates a space for artists to perform, chat, and interact directly with listeners.
The speakers all discussed the role of technology in expanding creative opportunities and reaching audiences. However, emotions, artistic thinking, cultural identity, and the ability to connect artists with the public remain crucial elements in the development of music.
Building a star requires more than just good music.
At the event, the organizers honored SingK, Ngoc Dung, and Hannah with the first, second, and third place awards of Rising-Z 2026. This is a music competition for students, aiming to discover and develop young talents from the Gen Z generation in Vietnam.
Following the awards ceremony, SingK performed “Radiant Vietnam ,” a song composed by humans with a beat created with AI assistance, concluding the segment with a performance that embodied youthful spirit and national pride.
SingK performs the song “Radiant Vietnam” after winning the Rising Z 2026 championship – Photo: HAI DUONG
One of the most noteworthy insights at the event came from Danny Sim. Speaking about the opportunity to bring Vietnamese music and artists to the international market, he argued that this is not just about music, but also about how the industry builds and develops an artist.
Taking K-pop as an example, Danny Sim said he was particularly impressed with the meticulous attention to detail in each stage of an idol’s development.
“When I carefully observed the entire process of building a K-pop star, I noticed they are incredibly meticulous at every stage. From the emerging artist stage, through the breakthrough phase, to becoming a superstar, they have detailed plans to help the artist shine and stand out,” he shared.
Danny Sim suggests that Vietnam can learn from K-pop’s approach to building and developing artists – Photo: HAI DUONG
However, he emphasized that music must remain the most important foundation: “Music is always important. It’s at the core of everything, from production and sound to whether the product keeps up with global music trends.”
In addition, Danny Sim also emphasized the importance of building an artist’s public image. From how artists appear in the media and interact with the press to connecting with their audience, everything requires careful preparation.
