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Sense & Sound: Five Ways into Taiwanese Pop MusicTa-Chien Hsiao agrees with this view. He admits that inviting well-known headliners is indeed a commercial consideration, but more importantly, he hopes to use them to bring visibility to up-and-coming bands and help them be heard by more people. He gives an example: in order to let audiences discover these promising artists and bands, he schedules them to perform right before the big acts. %u201cThat way, you %u2018have to%u2019 hear the earlier bands,%u201d he says. %u201cAfter trying it a few times, we%u2019ve found that those overseas or lesser-known bands in Taiwan have started to gain more listeners. The impact has been quite significant.%u201d Kuo adds candidly that one of the most important functions of a music festival is to broaden listeners%u2019 taste and imagination for music. %u201cOffering a diversity of genres in the lineup allows people to encounter different cultures and sounds. That%u2019s what a successful music festival should do.%u201dWith the same belief and drive, the three, along with MCKY and Hauer, set out to curate the lineup for the second edition of JJA with the goal to shape it into a city-based music festival that elevates the musical tastes of audiences in Taiwan. Over half of the lineup featured international acts, with a deliberate focus on genres rarely seen in Taiwan yet brimming with potential in global markets: reggae, post-rock, metal, electronic, and jazz. The festival also included an all-night DJ party, giving audiences a chance to experience the vibrancy of Taipei%u2019s nightlife. Their hope is for JJA to become both a launchpad for Taiwanese listeners to discover new sounds and a key gateway for international audiences to better understand Taiwan%u2019s musical landscape. All fans need to do is keep their ears open: the musical adventure begins here.A music festival is like high-intensity, high-density aerobic exercise for society. After the workout, your serotonin levels spike, and you feel amazing. You end up living a little happier and a little longer.%u2014KuoSunset Town Festival invites audiences to step into the role of virtual townsfolk, offering a fresh experience that blends gaming and music. (Photo courtesy of Sunset Town)