Indie music as cool ambassadors? Export-oriented cultural policy in Taiwan, 2010-2017

The Government Information Office began to widely subsidize the music industry, providing funding for the recording, production, and distribution of albums as well as for live-music venues and artists performing abroad. The client would to see these “cool ambassadors” support and improve Taiwan’s national image in the international arena through the efforts of the event management companies. By supporting local bands playing at international venues and by making the export of music a vital part of the cultural policy, the government hopes to see the promotion of Taiwanese culture globally. In 2013, the music policy shifted from subsidies for individuals to support for popular-music businesses participating in the global market. Taiwan has also engaged in the globalized and localized processes of creative industries policy-making. In the early stages of Taiwan’s creative-industry policy, the subsidy for participation at international music events played an important role for indie labels and individual musicians looking to perform overseas.