General

Social events are now allowed in selected states with strict SOPs in place for organizers, this is nothing but good news for the industry after a long hiatus. Renowned Malaysian jazz pianist Michael Veerapen - joins us on the show to share about their latest collaboration with KLPac on an upcoming festival simply titled “A Celebration Of Live Music” showcasing leading acts in the jazz scene with different themes throughout the festival.

IMAGE SOURCE: Malaysian Jazz Piano Festival 

Talks on music rights and royalties have been a prevalent and controversial topic especially between artists and record labels. How can musicians protect their craft and work and be more empowered on the subject? To get a basic understanding on the issue, we speak to Foong Cheng Leong, Co-chair of the Intellectual Property Committee of the Bar Council to explore the framework of intellectual property and understand its role in the music industry.

IMAGE SOURCE: ESB Professional 

By The Way is a rapid-fire segment that gives you a snapshot of developing stories in the music world. This week, prominent songwriters signing an open letter calling for artists to stop demanding credit for songs they did not write. The Library of Congress announced 25 titles that are considered "audio treasures worthy of preservation" based on their cultural, historical, or aesthetic importance to the nation's heritage - among them are Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation 1814” and Nas’ record “Illmatic”. British rock band Coldplay supporting a non-profit organization The Ocean Cleanup to clean up plastic waste from our Malaysian rivers. Lastly, music streaming company Spotify taps into the social audio app space with their latest acquisition Locker Room, promising to add social features to their service.

We've all been home a lot more over the pandemic, and that means more meals at home! So to get you cooking a little more (even if you've never done so), our host Jun is dishing up some simple and fun recipes to try. This week, seeing as it's the week of April Fool's, he's making an extra fun, extra funky dish—natto egg rice. It's a dish that's inspired by one of his favourite food videos online, and is a dish for the adventurous eater! So join us through this ASMR journey, and let Jun know on Instagram (@jun.and.tonic) if you made it!

IMAGE SOURCE: junandtonic.com 
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Video link - Youtube

In the news this week, we pick up ona few quotes from the government, electronics producer Xiaomi announces its intention to produce electric vehicles, and Japan's "big four" motorcycle companies agree to standardize their e-Bike batteries. In Part 2, we discuss the all-new Toyota Corolla Cross, Jeep's return to Malaysia, and a Rolls Royce for the younger, more affluent crowd, before taking a look at two 10 year old premium SUVs that are now worth RM60,000 each in the used car market today. Daniel Fernandez gives us the lowdown on the 2012 Audi Q5 and BMW X3.

The Breakfast Grille: Rolls-Royce: Ghosting Through The Pandemic, with host Khoo Hsu Chuang and Paul Harris, Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

The massive showdown that's been a few movies in the making, Godzilla vs Kong does exactly what it says on the tin - delivering ground shaking fights between two Titans (both of whom have decades of cinema and iconography behind them too). We discuss whether this lives up to the hype, and what it says about the larger cinematic universe that they've been building.

A new emergency law was introduced today, allowing the Prime Minister, chief ministers and Menteri Besar to pass additional spending without getting approval from legislative state assemblies, for as long as the state of Emergency stays in place. This has led to concerns of accountability for the lack of scrutiny over state government expenditures. We speak with lawyer Lim Wei Jiet for his views.

Image Source: Jaggat Rashidi, Shutterstock

According to a Reuters report, Malaysia's FDI in 2020 totalled $3.4b, a 56% drop from the previous year. Is this worrisome, or does it just reflect the uncertainties in the global investment landscape due to the pandemic? We explore this by looking at Malaysia's current standing in attracting FDI, what we can do better to remain competitive, and how we can move up the value chain. Image Source: Austin Distel, Unsplash

Google is rolling out new features on the Google Maps application, which will direct users along routes estimated to generate the lowest carbon emissions. Dhanya Nair tells us more.

Image Source: Henry Perks

The pandemic has left many companies struggling to stay afloat, and a survey conducted by recruitment company Hays has found that most employers in Asia predict salaries will remain stagnant this year. How do employees stay motivated despite a lack of salary increments and bonuses? How can employers reward the contribution of their staff? We speak to Deepa George, HR consultant, to get her thoughts.

Image Source: kate.sade, Unsplash