With media convergence and the rapid adoption of Internet-enabled devices as well as changes in media consumption patterns, digital publishing is quickly becoming a mainstay in the publishing sector. Riding on this trend, MDA collaborated with the Singapore Book Publishers Association (SBPA) to introduce initiatives to encourage publishers to venture into digital publishing.

In September 2012, SBPA launched the Content Digitisation Program which helped publishers gain experience in digital publishing by subsidising the cost of digitising their titles and hence enabling publishers to embark on new business activities.

In terms of content development, MDA supported Bubbly Books with the Development Assistance grant scheme to publish the Ellie Belly and Robozonic series which were targeted at six to 11-year-old children. Both series were made available in both print and digital formats with the digital versions being distributed worldwide to e-Bookstores such as Amazon, Lybrary, Feedbooks, eBook.de, and Kobo.

With the support of MDA's Development Assistance grant scheme, Bubbly Books published the
Ellie Belly and Robozonic series which are targeted at six to 11-year-old children

Apart from distributing their works on digital platforms, authors are also exploring the option of delivering their content on other platforms such as TV and games to further exploit the Intellectual Property (IP) that they have created. Local author Adeline Foo’s popular The Diary of Amos Lee book series which was adapted into a TV series and aired on MediaCorp’s okto channel in the first quarter of 2012, was also made into a mobile game which is slated for release in 2013.

The year in review also saw publishers exporting their content to the international market. A total of 13 local publishers participated at the Beijing Book Fair and another 28 at the Frankfurt Book Fair, setting up booths and taking up space at the Singapore pavilion to promote their products.

In the music scene, MDA and MediaCorp held a joint call-for-proposal in September 2012 to invite local composers to score theme songs for seven MediaCorp TV dramas. The initiative aims to give national exposure to local musicians as well as uncover new talent. The call attracted 103 song demos by 55 local music producers and music production companies. Seven winners were selected and supported by MDA’s Development Assistance grant scheme.

Mental was one of the seven winners of the
MDA and MediaCorp joint call-for-proposal
for drama theme songs

Of the selected theme songs, 咖啡恋, written for MediaCorp’s web drama 96°C Café, received airplay on XinMSN.com and Y.E.S. 93.3FM after the web drama went live on 4 February 2013. 啡情歌, the theme song for the drama's 20-episode series on FTA-TV also went on air on 15 April 2013. In addition, Mental, written for Suria drama Bingit, also received airplay on XinMSN.com and RIA 89.7FM on 9 February 2013 when the drama began its telecast. In March 2013, MDA and MediaCorp made a second call for proposals, inviting composers to create original theme songs for nine dramas; five for Channel 8, two for Suria and two for Vasantham.

MDA and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) also partnered two established music companies – Ocean Butterflies Music and Funkie Monkies Pop Music School – to offer local music training programmes in lyric writing, music composition and arrangement from April 2013. This is the first partnership between MDA, WDA and the music sector.

Arun Shenoy's Rumbadoodle was nominated
for "Best Pop Instrumental Album" at the
55^th Grammy Awards 2013

Notably, Singapore had its first nominee for the Grammy Awards – Arun Shenoy, whose debut world fusion record Rumbadoodle was nominated for "Best Pop Instrumental Album" at the 55^th Grammy Awards held on 10 February 2013 in Los Angeles. His style weaves together "rock 'n roll", "world beat" and "New Age". His solo record is slated for release in late 2013. Arun attended the award ceremony with support from MDA’s Marketing Assistance grant scheme.