Split Works

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Split Works is a Beijing- and Shanghai-based concert promotion and youth marketing agency.

Contents

History

Founded in 2006 by Archie Hamilton and Nathaniel Davis, Split Works has produced both branded and independent live music events in Greater China and the wider Asia region. Split Works has worked with both Chinese and Western music artists across many genres. [1] [2] [3]

Conceived at a time when live music options in China were extremely limited, Split Works is one of a few notable groups that have aided the growth of the live music industry in China and wider Asia. [4] [5]

On November 5th, 2009, The Shanghai Hot List (20 people to watch) is published on CNNgo, mentioning Zhang Haisheng of Yu Yin Tang on place no. 7, Elaine Chow of Shanghaiist on no. 12, Archie Hamilton of Split Works on no. 16 and the NEOCHA.com crew on no. 19.[6] Further in 2009, they launched JUE | Music + Art, a three-week urban arts festival with part of Beijing and Shanghai’s creative communities.

December 27th, they won the title of Promoter of the Year awarded at the 2010 Shanghai Grammys by the Cityweekend Shanghai.[7]

International Artists

Split Works has organized China concerts/tours for the following visiting artists:

Split Works has organized more extensive Asia Tours for the following artists:


Chinese Artists

Split Works has organized China concerts/tours for the following local artists:


Clients and Sponsors

Split Works has created branded projects and events in China for the following clients and sponsors:

  • Converse
  • Bacardi
  • Smirnoff
  • 42 Below Vodka
  • Tiger Beer
  • Transmit China
  • The Embassy of Sweden in China
  • Hilton Hotels
  • Holiday Inn


Branded Work (Highlights)

Converse Love Noise (2008)

In association with the advertising agency W+K, Split Works conceptualized, planned and produced the seminal Converse Love Noise road trip. They designed and built China’s first and funkiest tour bus and, with the 2008 Olympics looming large, took two of the hottest Beijing bands (PK14 and Queen Sea Big Shark) on the journey that spawned the Love Noise documentary). The tour and post-event publicity generated immense buzz for the Converse brand in China.

Bacardi Sino Sessions (2006-2008)

Split Works launched Bacardi’s B-Live platform over the course of 18 months, from November 2006 to March 2008. At a time when China’s live music scene was under-developed, Split Works proposed a series of well-produced and exciting shows featuring combinations of international and Chinese bands, supported by a fully integrated marketing and media campaign and culminating in the largest music festival in China up to that point. Split Works was Bacardi’s sole agency working on B-Live across this period, and continues to work to build Bacardi in China.

Festivals

Split Works owns and operates several independent events and festivals in China:

Yue Festival

In October 2007, Split Works produced the Yue Festival, an outdoor music festival held in Zhongshan Park in Shanghai, China. Talents included Faithless, Talib Kweli, Ozomatli, Yacht, Banana Monkey, SuperVC, Hedgehog, IZ, Bananas Soundsystem, Dragontongue, Uprooted, and Redstar. A mini-Yue Festival took place at the Star Live in Beijing on October 2 and 3, 2007, with Faithless, Talib Kweli, and Ozomatli. Partners and sponsors included Bacardi, Converse and Neocha.com.

Jue Festival

In January 2009, Split Works produced the Jue Festival, a 10-day event taking place at a range of concert venues, art galleries and theatres across Beijing and Shanghai. The event included 57 musicians, 34 visual artists and dramatic performers, and a total of 25 events between the two cities.[8]

Featured events included the Maybe Mars/Sound Destruction! Showcases in Beijing and Shanghai, and performances from French electro group we are ENFANT TERRIBLE. The visual arts component of the Jue Festival included a solo exhibition from Chinese artist Chen Hang Feng, and a joint video-installation exhibition from American artist Bradford Kessler and Chinese artist Cong Longfei. Jue drama performances included “To & From” by Shan Cheng Ju, and “Marriage Counseling: Three Sessions,” which was written and performed by the 5th Wall ensemble.[9]


Other Properties

China Music Radar

Since November 2007, Split Works have written and maintained China Music Radar, an blog focused on the music industry in China. Written in English for the benefit of the music industry outside of China, the Radar is committed to generating more interest and investment in the China market.

Wooozy

Launched in April 2009, Wooozy is one of the first Chinese-language specialist web publications focusing on both underground and mainstream music. Wooozy Radio sits alongside Wooozy with weekly podcasts featuring Chinese and international independent music.


Further Information

Official pages

Articles & Interviews

References

  1. ↑ Interview with Nathaniel Davis
  2. ↑ Cityweekend article
  3. ↑ Rollingstone Article
  4. ↑ Smartshanghai Article about Archie Hamilton
  5. ↑ Reuters article
  6. ↑ CNNgo Shanghai (2009-11-05). "The Shanghai Hot List: 20 people to watch". Retrieved on 2009-11-06.
  7. ↑ Dan Shapiro (The Beat) (2010-12-27). "2010 Shanghai Grammys: The Results Are In". Retrieved on 2011-01-09.
  8. ↑ PSFK splitworks site
  9. ↑ Go Cheng Doo Blog about Split Works


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