Forgive me if this post appears daft but from what I've observed, the music "scene" here really is a huge ripple effect.
If the media don't promote, no one's aware. If no one's aware, it falls to the band and private organizers to promote. Private means private. Sponsors (musically related) won't come flooding through the gates to help local bands on a huge whim. No sponsors discourages bands, in turn causing band members to lose determination. Lost determination can have so many effects and most of the time bands never realize they've totally lost their own determination to carry on. This I believe causes a long-term decline in interest both from audience and bands. Bands can't produce good music not because they are creatively declined, but because production doesn't come easy and everyone knows it. Here, it really becomes a point of "who you know".
Music cannot thrive in private sectors. I liken it to NASA in the states (just came to me, I'm sure there are better and more proportionally relevant examples). NASA brought the states to its high spot in the space sector thanks to the government's own "little" section in the budget for the space sector. There are a hell of a lot of private space companies but they take the odd flight and research now and then. No one hears about it, no one cares, because they don't get any huge media attention apart from the small little newspaper snippet.
The music sector, as I see it from the government's standpoint is not profitable like someone else has said. But I do believe its worth in investment does not come from the money that this sector will churn out, but moreso the joy, morale and inspiration that small countries really need to strive on. Just look at how effective the annual theme song for National Day (do they still do that now?) can be in promoting patriotism and pride for the country.
I'd type more but I've just realized the whole chunk of text I just churned out does not really contribute to helping with promoting awareness. But personally, I would say that at this point, for the government to invest big-time in something not monetarily profitable would be a little far-fetched (a little). Give it some time. Bands and musos, continue churning out your own great original sounds! Eventually things will get a little more organized which will cause strong attention to the local scene. I see soft as a great avenue for such a "revolution".
It's just sad seeing that the only huge earnings the musically talented (in technical and skillful terms) get are from teaching music and/or bringing their music overseas to more reputed producers/sponsors, don't you think?
(Sorry, huge post again)
Cheers.
