Countries: Laos, an ABU member country.

Laos is a South East Asian country located between Vietman, Thailand, China and Cambodia. It has a population of six million inhabitants and its capital city is Vientiane.

The national broadcasting company of this country is the LNT (Lao National Television) and still hasn't taken part in any of the ABU Song Festivals. Laos is also elegible to participate in the upcoming ABU TV Cup Song Contest wichi will premiere on early 2017.

National broadcaster

The LNT was founded in 1983 in collaboration with the laotian minstry of culture and information. That year, the company started its first TV Channel. Since then, the broadcaster has been developing itself with nationalwide broadcasts, two state channels and some regional channels. This TV station is a full member of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union and cooperates with some of the state broadcasters of the neighbouring countries such as Thailand or Vietnam. LNT, has also organised important international events such as the 2009 South East Asian Games.

Entertainment Industry.

As many of the South Eastern Asian countries, the national laotian music scene has been exposed to the influence  of artists from other countries such as South Korea, or Thailand, but anyway, the L-pop has started its own rise with the appearance of national music labels, and a new wave of artists, who have renewed the lao music scene with the newest sounds and trends. The modern Pop music has also been sharing space with the traditional Mor Lam music style, which is still very popular, both in Laos, and the Isaan region of northern Thailand.

In the near future, the Lao Music industry could be as flourishing as the T-pop or the music made in other coutries.

Form left to right, some famous laotian bands and singers that could be suitable to represent their country in the ABU TV Song Festival, or the upcoming ABU TV Cup Song Contest, that will be held for first time in early 2017.

Alexandra Bonxouei.	Genii.	Super One.
Kai Overdance.	Aluna Thavonsouk.	Sam
Deng Duangdeaun.	Moukdavanh Santiphone.	Tot Lina.
SHAWTY.	Annita.	Xtreme.

ABU Song Festival future.

Although the Lao National Television is member of the ABU (Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union), the broadcaster has never intended to take part in the ABU TV Song Festival or the ABU Radio Song Festival, maybe because of economic reasons. Despite the reasons that may prevent this country from taking parti in the ATSF, the laotian music scene has developed very quickly and some artists could easily attract the asian audience. Although the potential of the Lao pop is big, it's not known if LNTV, the Lao national TV broadcaster will ever participate in any of the ABU Song Festivals, including the upcoming ABU TV Cup Song Contest, which will be premiered on early 2017.

Venues.

The Vientiane city hall (The official name is: Lao National Cultural hall), would be one of the most suitable events to host the ABU TV Song Festival in case that Laos could be interested to organise the event. This convention centre is usually used for the annual Lao Music Awards, which prizes the laotian pop, traditional or rock singers. It has got 1200 seats and has been also the host place for many government conventions.

In case that the ABU TV Song Festival, turned into a song competition, and subsequently, a bigger event, the Lao National Convention Centre, which was built in 2012, by chinese architects, would be suitable to host the festival. This centre has been the host place for the ASEM summit in 2012. It's been also the venue for the concerts of some korean pop bands such as U-KISS or Laboum, in Laos.  The LNCC, has got a seat capacity of over 3.000 people, which makes this venue, which makes it suitable for the ABU TV Cup Song Contest.

The Gymnasium Pahoman, which was built in 2008 in order to host the Volleyball competitions during the South East Asian Games, has got a seat capacity for 3.000 viewers that could be extended in case of concerts. It would be also a suitable place in order to host the upcoming ABU TV Cup Song Contest.