Interestingly, CD stores in Hong Kong have an increasing number of issues
with the covers printed in Chinese which indicates an awareness of the
wider potential market, although most people who seek out western classical
music have at least enough knowledge of western languages to read the
titles.  How cost effective is this?  It's not hard to be bi lingual.
What's the market in China and SE Asia?

Also interesting is the fact that stores stock both European and US
issues - at HMV in Central, I saw two rows of the Quasthoff Lortzing CD
in completely different language wrappers, Abendstern and Evening Star.
Strange that there should be so much choice on what's essentially the
same thing, but relatively little choice on other things (though there
was quite a bit of contemporary composers).  Masses of piano which
reflects HK society, I guess, but little song.  Having heard about the
wonderful Japanese market, I looked out for anything printed in Japanese
to no avail.  It was surprising as the education and background of many
HK people makes them aware of western classical music at an early age,
and it's still a prosperous enough place that people can afford to spend
on building up good collections.  A lot of people purchase through the
internet, or when abroad and many travel overseas for concerts and
festivals.  (despite the impressive looking venues and highish government
spending on live performance) But not everyone is in that league.  Such
buying patterns assume people already know what they are looking for.
Many people come to classical music almost by accident, exploring CD
stores and so on.

Anne
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