Last year, Daniel Sassoon (very succinctly) wrote:
In Singapore everybody seems to want a freebie when it comes to bands and music. “Oh, can I have a free CD?” “Can you put me on your guestlist?” “Wah, must pay ticket entry ah?” “Nevermind, download it lah.” Attitudes that music is or should be free. Newsflash — for many of us it’s a JOB. I don’t go to where you work and ask for free french fries bucko, so I’d ask you the same courtesy.
I have people I hardly know on a personal level asking me for free CDs, and they don’t even listen to local music! On the flip side, if you want these freebies — help out the band, in one way or another. It’s the least you can do and we’ll do our best to repay you in whatever way we can. The scene as it is today wouldn’t have existed without the kindness of strangers.