The
respect of singers for the public and for composer’s copyrights were central
topics at a recent conference held within the framework of the fifth annual
Singers Day this week in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Singers Day: Hoang Hai performs at a conference on the music industry held in northern Quang Ninh Province. — VNS Photo

Musician Le Quang, one of the
initiators of the day six years ago, said that today’s singers were better at
communicating with the public and, although sometimes rivals in competing for
the music market, with each other. Singers were showing greater respect for the
audience through their enhanced performing styles and musical productions
targeted at specific audiences, Quang said.

Recent conflicts over copyright
between singers and songwriters reflected a lack of professionalism in the
country’s music industry, said singer Hoang Hai, noting that he had avoided such
conflicts by generally working with established composers and signing proper
contracts with them, even those who were his close friends.

“Some singers are asking to be paid
more for their labours, which is fine,” Hai said, acknowledging that the topic
of payments was rather too “sensitive” to be discussed in greater detail.

“But they shouldn’t ask too much,”
he added. “I think a singer should contribute to society within a possible scope
that they can manage.”

Hai elaborated by saying a singer
could not be expected to join in all charity shows and needed to be able to be
selective in where he or she could appear.

Overseas Vietnamese singer Ngoc Anh
recounted her experiences dealing with the media, which fiercely criticised her
performance in a see-through top in the 1990s. She kept silent at the criticism
and drew a lesson to dress more properly when performing.

“I think that’s a kind of
professional and cultural standard,” she said.

Singers Day 2011 gathered over 200
local and overseas Vietnamese singers to events which ended yesterday, Jan 19, including
performances and a charity gala to raise a funds for the poor in Quang Ninh.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News