Sharafah Malihah

This thesis investigates how legal frameworks and stakeholder partnerships influence the governance and sustainability of music festivals in Malaysia, using Good Vibes Festival 2023 (GVF2023) as an intrinsic case study. Following an on‑stage protest by The 1975’s frontman against Malaysia’s LGBT‑related laws, the Ministry of Communications ordered the cancellation of the remaining festival days, triggering significant financial losses, reputational damage and subsequent litigation. The research questions how such interventions emerge from the interaction of state actors, regulatory instruments and industry practices, and what this reveals about broader challenges in cultural governance.

Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative single‑case design, combining document analysis (laws, PUSPAL guidelines, ministerial statements, media reports) with a semi‑structured interview with senior management at Future Sound Asia (FSA), the festival’s organiser. The conceptual framework draws on governance theory, cultural policy and stakeholder perspectives to analyse four objectives: mapping contractual relationships and partnerships; examining policy coherence and cultural governance through GVF2023; situating Malaysia’s approach relative to other Southeast Asian jurisdictions; and proposing recommendations for more resilient, inclusive governance models.

The findings show that Malaysia’s festival ecosystem is governed by an interlocking system of Penal Code provisions, PUSPAL guidelines, ministerial discretion and local authority licensing, which together encourage anticipatory self‑regulation by promoters while leaving them highly exposed to abrupt, politically inflected interventions. GVF2023 exemplifies how sanctions can escalate from artist‑level blacklisting to the exceptional cancellation of a multi‑day festival, revealing gaps between written frameworks and their application in moments of moral and electoral pressure. The study also demonstrates how organisers respond by tightening contracts, adjusting programming and reconsidering brand strategy, even as Malaysia continues to attract major touring acts.

Comparative discussion with neighbouring countries highlights differences in predictability, procedural clarity and the balance between moral regulation and creative industry development. On this basis, the thesis recommends clearer escalation ladders for sanctions, more balanced risk‑sharing in contracts, earlier communication of blackout dates, and structured consultation with industry and civil society when revising guidelines.

Overall, the study contributes to scholarship on cultural governance in hybrid regimes and offers practical insights for promoters, policymakers and regional stakeholders seeking to foster a more sustainable and culturally sensitive festival landscape in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.