SO U WANNA BE A ROCKSTAR IN SINGAPORE?

no label fully invests in bands in this country, the closest u get is probably a consignment based distribution deal which ultimately protects the interest of the record company itself.
think of it in their perspective, no buisness man will ever fork out cash to invest in something like a band just to boost the band's reputation/cd sales.
record companies ultimately want a sure-fire money making artist and sadly thats not what they see in the music that Singapore produces.

while talking to a friend from an international act today, i also realised from him that beside signature guitar models like the STEVE VAI JEM, the PAUL GILBERT PGM or the SLASH GIBSON LES PAUL, every other guitarist out there that is sponsored, supported, endorsed etc... is basically a loan from the guitar companies.
so basically besides the JEM, every other ibanez guitar that Vai has is given to him under a loan system from ibanez.
"no one is gonna pay u money or give u free guitars no matter how fast or how well u play."
its ultimately what u have to offer to them that interests the companies.
imagine the number of ibanez sold just bacause STEVE VAI uses one.
damn, even i bought my ibanez BECAUSE STEVE VAI USES ONE!

having a music video or nice photos or even touring the globe sure seems glamorous as hell doesnt it?
truth is as far as i know, every local band that has the above has paid for their own videos, photo shoots and air plane tix/accomodation.

bottomline is, music is ultimately a business like any other, and like any business, u ll only be in demand if u can earn the big guns their big money.

jst think of it this way, if a hawt guy went to a hooker, she'd still charge him for the sex cos prostitution is a business :P