18th All That Matters to run from 11-13 September 2023

All That Matters, the gateway to Asia’s music, sports, gaming, Digital, marketing, Web3 and entertainment industries, returns for its 18th edition from 11 to 13 September at the Hilton Singapore Orchard.

Source: All That Matters organisers. Event poster.

Conference by day and music festival by night, attendees from major labels to sports leaders, distributors, publishers and more, will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with global brands and engage in discussions about the industry's hottest topics, from AI, sustainability, emerging technologies, Web3, to the rise of women’s sports and developments in the creator economy.

Programming highlights

The conference segment of All That Matters 2023 will comprise six tracks – music, gaming, sports, digital, marketing and Web3, featuring industry leaders across more than 60 keynote sessions and panel discussions, as well as the Learning Matters Academy. Key sessions include:

MUSIC | Hip Hop at 50 with Russell Simmons & Cordell Broadus 

Wednesday, 13 September, 5:30 pm – 6 pm

Cordell Broadus, Snoop Dogg's son, will host a conversation on the past, present, and future of Hip Hop. Listen to the ups and downs of his career and how the world of culture is evolving.

GAMING | Gaming and Esports Matters: Unveiling the Future of Interactive Entertainment 

Tuesday, 12 September, 11:20 am – 12 pm

E-sports experts will explore the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities in this rapidly evolving world of gaming.

SPORTS | Spotlight on the FIFA Women's World Cup

Monday, 11 September, 12 pm – 12:30 pm

Jane Fernandez, COO Australia of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, will lead the conversation on what it takes to host one of the world’s largest international sporting events.

DIGITAL | The Gateway FROM Asia: The Crucial Role of Asian Actors and Artists in Global Entertainment 

Tuesday, 12 September, 5 pm – 5:30 pm

This session brings together Adele Lim, co-writer of Crazy Rich Asians, and Bing Chen, CEO of Gold House, to celebrate the contributions of Asian actors and artists to the entertainment industry on a global scale. 

From Hollywood blockbusters to international music sensations, this session showcases the immense importance of Asian talent in shaping narratives, promoting cultural diversity, and captivating audiences worldwide. Gold House is a non-profit which promotes the interests of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.

MARKETING | AI...Want it That Way?

Monday, 11 September, 2:30 pm – 3 pm

Featuring Candina Weston, Ex-Microsoft CMO and specialist in marketing, AI and transformation, the session will look at how generative AI is creating impacts and new opportunities in marketing, communications, sales and customer experience.

WEB3 | Learnings From First-Mover Brands In Web3

Monday, 11 September, 2:30 pm – 3 pm

Discover the groundbreaking insights and strategies adopted by pioneering brands in the Web3 space. Explore their successes, challenges, and lessons learned as they embrace decentralised technologies and reshape their industries.

Jasper Donat, Co-Founder and CEO of Branded, producer of the event, said: “This year, All That Matters is coming of age with a spectacular speaker lineup. Committed to our six conference tracks, we continue to delve deep into each industry's core and what truly matters within it. It is hard to overlook the riveting impact of AI, brand partnerships, the online creator economy, Web3 and many more transformative forces which are shaping our industry faster than ever. Our goal is to connect, inform, inspire and spark vital conversations among industry leaders, empowering them to shape the future of their industries and the world at large.”

All That Matters features more than 100 speakers from 90 companies, including:

· Jane Fernandez – COO Australia, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023

· Adele Lim – Writer-Director, 100 Tigers Productions, best known for co-writing Crazy Rich Asians

· Yat Siu – Co-founder and Executive Chairman, Animoca Brands

· Gautam Anand – VP YouTube APAC, Google

· Alexis Crowell – VP, Intel Technology Asia

· Danny Tang – Co-Founder, CFO and Head of Global Strategy Office, VSPO, an e-sports tournament operator

· Paul Smith – MD, YouTube Music, APAC, Google

· Megan West – Director, Music Label Partnerships, Meta

· Sylvain Delange – MD APAC, Believe Music SEA

· Deborah Mei – Co-Founder & Partner, The Raine Group, an investment bank

· Eliah Seton – CEO, SoundCloud

· Troy Carter – CEO and Founder, Venice Music

· Paul J. Foster – CEO, Global Esports Federation

· Jonathan Dworkin – EVP, Digital Business Development & Strategy, Universal Music Group

· Cordell Broadus – Founder, Champ Medici Group (Snoop Dogg’s son) with Russell Simmons, Co-founder, Def Jam, a record label

· Dennis Perez – Digital Marketing, Media and Commerce (DMC) Lead, Unilever Beauty & Wellbeing Southeast Asia

· Nichol David – Founder, Nichol David Organisation, and the longest reigning World No. 1 squash player

· Bing Chen – Founder & CEO, Gold House, AU Holdings

· Alisha Outridge – Chief Technology & Product Officer, TuneCore

· Joseph Hadley – Global Head of Artist Partnerships and Audience, Spotify

· Kevin Foo – MD, RCA Greater China & Sony Music Taiwan

· Arica Ng – President, Asia Pacific, Warner Chappell Music

· Mark Chay – Executive Director, Community and Administration, Global Esports Federation

· Akshat Rathee – MD, NODWIN Gaming

· Prakash Somosundram – MD, Infront Pan-Asia

Showcasing some of the best emerging acts from Asia Pacific and around the world, Music Matters Live brings Singapore nights alive over six electrifying nights from 8 to 13 September, featuring 30 artists from 15 countries. Music Matters Live serves as a global platform representing the APAC music industry and opening doors for talented artists seeking to make a mark in the world's most populated region.

The festival kicks off on 8 September with Music Matters Live GPSS Weekender at Clarke Quay; a weekend of free live music open to the public.

When the All That Matters conference starts on 11 September, Music Matters Live will also feature industry nights showcasing new artists from around the region, including Warner Music Presents on 12 September at the Ground Theatre at *Scape, plus more.

Learning Matters returns with two tracks – Music Matters Academy and Sport Matters Academy on 11 and 12 September respectively.

All That Matters’ speakers and industry leaders will take part in sessions which are free to attend for students and those aspiring to enter the music and sport industries.

Details

The VIP Pass is priced at US$1,299, which includes access to three days of live content, networking platform, VIP networking parties, coffee breaks and daily lunches. The Content Pass is priced at US$649 and includes access to three days of live content and networking from 11 – 13 September. Visit www.allthatmatters.asia for the full agenda and ticketing information.

For Music Matters Live lineup announcements and schedules, follow @musicmatterstome on Instagram.

True Colours Festival presents performances from talented artistes with disabilities

True Colours Festival, presenting talented performing artistes with disabilities in the Asia Pacific region, will take place from 22-25 March 2018 in Singapore.

Up to 20 performing artistes/troupes from Japan, China, India, Korea, Malaysia, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore, plus guest artistes from the UK and Canada, will perform at a multimedia concert experience at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and at the accompanying True Colours Festival Village, a short walk from the concert venue.

True Colours Festival also includes the Arts and Disabilities International Conference 2018, a one-and-a-half day event for professionals and practitioners in the field.

More details including a confirmed lineup of the artistes will be announced in early January 2018.

True Colours is presented by UNESCO and The Nippon Foundation, and produced by Very Special Arts Singapore. 

Details:

Tickets are priced at S$30 with concessions and discounts. An inclusive seating arrangement will be introduced to allow wheelchair users to enjoy the concert experience seated together with their family members and friends.

Tickets cost S$30 each and will go on sale from 11 January 2018.

LINE introduces conference call support for up to 200 people

Source: LINE. Screenshots of the new voice call feature.

LINE has added a new group call feature to the latest version of the LINE messaging app (iPhone and Android v.5.11, Windows Desktop v.4.5) which enables users to participate in voice calls with up to 200 people at a time. The group chat or multi-person chat voice function will soon be available to users of the LINE Mac desktop client as well.

When activated, the feature will prompt users within a group chat or multi-person chat with a notification that allows them to select the number of people to participate in the call. An icon is displayed above the username of the person currently speaking for easier communication. The service is available for free to all LINE users who have updated their app to v 5.111, making it an easy way to connect with friends and family for a chat or with co-workers for a conference call.

LINE was first launched in June 2011 as a messaging service available across multiple devices and network carriers, enabling users around the world to easily keep in touch with friends, family, and coworkers. Its free voice call service was introduced in October of the same year, followed by video calls in September 2013 as part of an initiative to strengthen lines of communication between people.

*Networks supported: Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G. Calls made over 3G and 4G may incur additional data transmission charges.

Jabra's SPEAK 810 tracks people speaking metres away

Fragment.in, a Swiss-based design interaction studio, put together a computer orchestra controlled by gestures. A Kinect recognises hand movements and in turn controls sound from a bank of computers. The sound is delivered through Jabra SPEAK 810 devices.

Audio and communications technology specialist Jabra's new SPEAK 810 conference speakerphone delivers flawless call experiences for improved meeting collaboration.

The US$599 Jabra SPEAK 810 is designed to eliminate the pain points of effective collaboration: technology challenges such as setup issues, connectivity to platforms and poor sound quality. Bringing a plug and play speakerphone experience with superior audio to large meeting and conference rooms for the first time, the Jabra SPEAK 810 complements the personal experience delivered by its smaller, portable SPEAK 410 and 510 products. With multiple connectivity options including USB and a 3.5mm jack, the Jabra SPEAK 810 integrates seamlessly with all communication platforms – eliminating the need for dial pad solutions and challenging the traditional hardware approach to conference calling.

Additional ease of use is delivered by integration with all communication platforms, removing the need for an IP endpoint. The USB charge-out port feature can even charge tablets or mobile devices during calls.

“Microsoft continues its working partnership with Jabra to ensure that their solutions are fully compatible with Microsoft Skype for Business,” said Giovanni Mezgec, Microsoft GM of Skype for Business. “The Jabra SPEAK 810 is an excellent example of this collaboration.”

Source: Jabra. A SPEAK 810 device can charge a phone while handling conference calls. 

Today, a third of conference calls are delayed due to setup issues with connections and speaker phones, 15% of meeting time is spent on ‘getting started’, and one of the most common frustrations is poor sound quality*. The Jabra SPEAK 810 rides on Jabra’s heritage in office audio solutions as well as ear-related diagnostics and hearing healthcare technology. It facilitates conference calls in meeting rooms of up to 100 sq m with 15 people or more in one room, delivering clear sound without unwanted background noise. The plug and play speakerphone features powerful loudspeakers and market-first technology from Jabra called ZoomTalk, an intelligent directional microphone that focuses on sound from human voices.

Holger Reisinger, Head of Business Solutions, Jabra, commented: “Businesses are becoming more focused on creating working environments and cultures that better enable them to compete. As a result, office environments are changing and becoming more dynamic, demanding and technology-enabled. New ways of working are adding flexibility to working spaces, practices and hours. Yet productivity must also remain a priority for business success and for this reason so should enabling effective collaboration and concentration.”

Mark Leigh, President Asia Pacific of Jabra said, “Jabra understands and is committed to enhancing the role of audio in enabling collaboration and concentration, and enabling productive meetings wherever people are.”

Interested?

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post on about what is impeding productivity at the office

*Research commissioned by Jabra

Ningxia International Conference Center now open

Source: tvsdesign.

The Ningxia International Conference Center is now open in Yinchuan, the capital city of Northwest China's Ningxia province. The 700,000 sq ft facility is the new home of the China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum.

"The architecture of this conference centre was inspired by ancient Chinese metaphors and strong Islamic artistic patterns, harmoniously merging elements of both cultures," says tvsdesign Design Principal Rob O'Keefe. 

"We designed the facility around a central outdoor courtyard, an element that becomes the facility's epicentre, where people will meet, share knowledge and develop new ideas."

The project's most notable design element is a unifying and dynamic steel shell that was created by stitching together a circle and a square. In addition to aesthetic appeal, the complex's facade also protects it from the desert sun and filters the strong daylight to reduce heat.

Startup Capitals, the conference to kick off on May 20

Source: Startup Capitals'
website.

Startup Capitals, a thought-leadership conference based on the recently published book authored by Singapore-based author and journalist, Zafar Anjum will be held on May 20 in Singapore at The POD, NLB, 100 Victoria Street. 

The one-day conference, which will also witness the official release of the book, celebrates the innovation/startup ecosystem of cities that are making a mark on the world map. It brings together all the stakeholders in a startup ecosystem, including entrepreneurs, business leaders, innovators, researchers and educational specialists, government leaders and venture capitalists, under one roof.

Steve Leonard, Executive Deputy Chairman, IDA, will deliver a keynote on Building the World’s First Smart Nation. Zachary Caceres, award winning writer, entrepreneur and Director of the Startup Cities Institute in Guatemala City, will also provide a keynote titled Startup Cities, Micro reforms and treating governance services as a technology for startups to innovate.

Interested?

View the agenda

Register - delegate tickets cost S$75, with an additional S$3.13 booking fee
Read the Suroor Asia blog post about another of Zafar's works, Iqbal.

ACCA to hold Accounting for the Future virtual conference from 15 to 18 September

Source: ACCA website.

Corporate culture, sustainability and global business service models are the burning issues up for discussion at the sixth annual Accounting for the Future global virtual conference, to be held by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the global body for professional accountants.

Four days of video and audio webcast content, on a range of subject matter involving the future of the accountancy profession, will be streamed live and on-demand for the conference from 15 to 18 September 2014:

15 September 

Risk and culture: how much does corporate culture influence effective risk management and governance? 

16 September 

Investors and reporting: a new reporting framework. 

17 September 

Tomorrow's world: how are changing economies going to impact on finance professionals? 

18 September

The smart finance function: how can finance teams work smarter to become the drivers of success with a business? 

Key highlights to look out for during the conference include a panel on culture and channelling corporate behaviour on the first day. Based on a report to be released in September 2014 in collaboration with UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), this session looks at recent scandals in the banking sector and at hospitals where the blame has fallen on "poor corporate culture". As a result of this, the Financial Stability Board expects more awareness of risk culture and that boards of financial institutions will be asked to judge their own organisational culture.

On the last day of the conference, a live audio webcast will cover talent transformation in Asia. A cross-discipline panel will look at available, established and emerging and converging technologies, and the ways in which they could potentially impact on the profession over the next five to 10 years. They will consider new technologies, their potential impact, the role that accountants can play and new  opportunities that will be created. 

Faye Chua, ACCA's Head of futures research, said: "The finance profession is ever-changing, especially with the rapid advancement in technology we have seen in recent years. We need to keep up-to-date with the changes and see how beneficial they are to our work and to the profession as a whole. Of course everyone wants to be ahead of their competitors too, so this would be another incentive to keep up with change, as well as to build a stronger and sustainable economy."

Register for the conference here. The agenda is here. ACCA members can receive CPD points that count towards their training and education.

Google shares how it's making you more productive this year

Google has shared a number of blog posts about news from I/O, Google's annual developer conference, which saw Sundar Pichai, Google SVP of Android, Chrome & Apps and Google's Urs Hölzle, SVP of Technical Infrastructure, announce a slew of sneak peeks and new products for Apps, Android, Chromebooks and the Cloud Platform.

The official Google blog noted that there are now one billion Android device users, sending an estimated 20 billion text messages a day, and 93 million selfies. Post author Pichai also talked about the introduction of:

Android Wear

Android Wear extends the Android ecosystem to wrist wearables. "Just say 'Ok Google' to ask questions or to get stuff done," says Pichai. Two Android wearables were announced at the conference, the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. Both are available to order today on Google Play, with the Moto 360 from Motorola to be available in coming months.

Android Auto

When using phones is unsafe, as when driving, Google now has Android Auto. Similar to Apple's auto solution CarPlay, the Android phone is connected to a car with Android Auto, so that features like turn-by-turn navigation and curated playlists can be used. "This is accessible through your car’s controls, and more importantly, is far safer than fumbling around with your phone. You’ll start to see Android Auto in cars later this year," said Pichai.

Android One

For emerging markets, Google is creating an ecosystem which includes mobile computing hardware reference platforms. The Android One initiative will provide smartphones that are high quality, affordable and come with reasonable data plans, Pichai said. "Our partners will launch an initial range of sub-US$100 Android One smartphones starting in India this fall (editor's note: roughly September to November), with more countries to follow," said Pichai.
Amit Singh, President of Google Enterprise, shared a blog post about the following highlights: 

Google Drive for Work

Google's cloud storage service now comes with a premium edition for business, called Google Drive for Work. Features include unlimited storage, new admin controls, advanced file audit reporting, advanced audit reporting and new security controls for US$10 per user a month.

The fine-grained controls let admins customise the Drive experience, such as which employees can install the desktop sync client. With the new audit view they can see activity like moving, deleting or sharing a file within or outside the company. 

Files of up to 5 TB in size may be stored. Google points out in a blog post that no desktop or laptop on the market today has a hard drive of that capacity.

Updates to Google Docs

As of June 25, all files uploaded to Google Drive will be encrypted, not only from your device to Google and in transit between Google data centres, but also at 
rest on Google servers.

Quickoffice is now full integrated into Docs, Sheets and Slides, so users can open and edit those documents in Office Compatibility Mode directly on Android, and the Chrome browser. The same capability is coming soon to iOS. "This means you can open, edit, save and send Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files from your favourite device. You no longer have to buy additional software — it just works," said Amit Singh, President of Google Enterprise.

Android L

The company also shared some of the new features that will be in the next version of Android, just called “L”, that are intended for enterprises. Businesses will also be able buy apps in bulk on Google Play and make them available to employees. 

APEC-SMETC announces all 1,200 booths sold out

The APEC Small & Medium Enterprises Technology Conference and Fair (APEC-SMETC), dedicated to providing a platform for APEC members to showcase new technologies and products as well as to promoting technological communication and economic cooperation among the region's SMEs to help them thrive internationally, will be held from June 19 to 22 in Yiwu, China. Yiwu, in Zhejiang Province, is the world's largest consumer goods purchasing centre.

The 8th APEC-SMETC will continue to uphold the theme of "technology promotes the economy, cooperation creates the future" to showcase the new products and technologies of the region's SMEs. All 1,200 exhibition booths have been reserved, with more than 400 booked by non-APEC organisations. There will be displays focusing on electronic appliances, high-end technological equipment, industrial designs, e-commerce, smart logistics, public service platforms and the best innovations created by participating SMEs.

This year's APEC-SMETC emphasises the issues faced by SMEs in member economies, as well as on technological innovation and technology exchange, with the aim of commercialising, industrialising and globalising scientific and technological findings.

The 8th APEC-SMETC will include a SME technology exchange meeting themed "Driving Industrial Transformation through Technological Innovation". The meeting will cover current issues facing SMEs, match technology sources available within APEC countries and globally with those in APEC SMEs, and improve their market presence and promote their development within APEC. To encourage technological innovation among SMEs in the Asia-Pacific region, the organising committee of the 8th APEC-SMETC will present an APEC SME Technology Innovation Award.

The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the PRC, and the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government, and organised by the China Centre for Promotion of SME Development, the Zhejiang Provincial Economic and Information Commission, the Yiwu Government, and the China International Cooperation Association of Small and Medium Enterprises. It is co-organised by APEC SMESA, the alliance of APEC SME Service Agencies. For more details, visit www.apecsmetc.gov.cn.

SilverNeedle Hospitality introduces Healthy MICE Programme

SilverNeedle Hospitality is launching a health-focused MICE programme, ‘Healthy Minds, Healthy Thinking’, to meet the growing demand from conference organisers for healthier catering and team-building activities.

Watermelon salad

In a survey* of 85 industry event organisers, almost all, 93%, that said having healthier options on menus was an important consideration when it came to booking venues for their corporate functions and conferences.  

 

“‘Our Healthy Minds, Healthy Thinking’ programme originated from a real need in the MICE arena,” said Iqbal Jumabhoy, Managing Director and Group CEO of SilverNeedle Hospitality. “With our innovative take on healthy menus and activities, our programme will ensure delegates reap the full benefits of attending the events at our hotels.”

 

The ‘Healthy Minds, Healthy Thinking’ programme focuses on three key areas:  healthy eating, healthy thinking and healthy exercise. As SilverNeedle Hospitality’s research indicates 90% of respondents get restless and lose focus during meetings, the super-charged programme will come with a handy guide packed with tips and tricks on how organisers can mix things up to help delegates stay focused.

 

Healthy bites

With nutrition strongly linked to concentration, superfood-infused menus with a focus on a brain-healthy diet have been formulated. These menus feature the popular ‘wonder-foods’  such as avocados, blueberries and kale and utilise  healthier cooking techniques such as barbequing, grilling and poaching with less trans-fats, less salt and more cold-pressed oils. 

Menu items such as Vietnamese rice paper rolls and fresh fruit platters, health bars and smoothies are also part of the programme. A fruit and vegetable juice bar will also be available on request.

 

The ‘Healthy Minds, Healthy Thinking’ programme encourages creative power breaks, simple exercises and mind games to help keep energy and concentration levels high. The growing trend towards active sport/games during conferences was endorsed by over 45% of respondents, who confirmed they have incorporated these into recent events; the most popular being team-building activities.

SilverNeedle Hospitality is committed to making sure every minute counts and has thought outside the box to provide a programme of activities for MICE participants. For longer conferences, tailored team-building experiences are available, including Survivor or Amazing Race-style competitions, cooking classes, and creative activities, including swimming with wild dolphins.

SilverNeedle Hospitality will roll out the programme initially across their Australian branded properties of Chifley, Grand Chifley, Country Comfort, Australis and selected Sundowner hotels, followed closely by the three SilverNeedle Collection hotels in Thailand and Laos.

 

Click here for more information on the new programme.

*All images from SilverNeedle Hospitality

*Key Research Outcomes of SilverNeedle Hospitality’s MICE Survey

Food and Beverage

· 93% of conference organisers cited healthy catering options as important to their staff and clients with 80% noticing an increase in requests for healthy catering.

· Fresh fruit and salad, at 37% is the most requested healthy catering option. It is closely followed by gluten-free, 35%.

· Food and beverage, at 13%, ranked fourth as a factor in decision making when selecting a venue. The top three included location, at 29%; facilities, 26%; and capacity, accounting for 15%.

· 52% of conference organisers showed a preference for set menu packages whilst 33% preferred tailored menus.

Activities & Team Building

· Nearly 75% of conference organisers have requested team-building activities for at least one event. Of the activities requested, active sports/games are by far the most popular, accounting for 45%.

Focus in meetings

· Nearly 90% of delegates get restless in meetings and conferences but only 72% practice strategies to help them refocus.

· Strategies which delegates felt helped improve concentration the most were taking a break, 37%, and team building which accounted for 21%. Healthy food and exercise were considered the second most effective strategy, when combined, accounting for 33%.

· Nearly 80% of conference organisers believe their staff and clients would be interested in tips and strategies to help them stay focused and engaged in meetings.

Other Research Outcomes – MICE Survey

· 56% of conferences/events take place in capital cities and 29% in regional areas.

· For 50% of conference organisers the most important criterion, when choosing to proceed with a venue, is that their requirements are understood and there is a good level of communication.

· 96% of delegates have separate accommodation and function requirements, with 59% of these delegates contacting the hotel directly for accommodation rates.