In the past few years, there has been growth in the demand for foreign artists to stage concerts here in the Philippines.

This was one of the reasons N91Live—a talent booking, promotion, and live event production company—ventured into local concert production.

Helmed by Jun Lorenz Mamangon and his wife Irene, a former local singer, N91Live aimed to bring international performers as well as local artists to perform live before Filipino audiences.

N91Live’s concept of producing concerts locally started two years ago when Jun was approached by a local promoter to help bring Justin Timberlake for a benefit concert.

The international singer-actor did not have a concert tour at that time but N91Live  managed to feature him as a special guest, along with American R&B singer Jojo, in Timbaland’s benefit concert for the Ondoy typhoon victims in 2010.

N91Live will produce another concert by bringing back American artists Michelle Branch and Jojo in a back-to-back performance in Manila (June 7) and Cebu (June 8).

“What better way to start and come back fresh, deliver something new, deliver something different for the Filipinos, it’s entertainment.

“We all love music, right? We love to sing. So, I go, ‘This is the business I wanna provide.’ And I have been doing that,” said Jun in a private conference for the upcoming concert last Saturday, May 19, at Chef Laudico Bistro, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

After Michelle and Jojo, N91Live has a list of other artists that they would like to invite,  but some of them are still under negotiation.

BUSINESS SENSE. The artists included in their list were not only a matter of  personal choice. N91Live also considered market demand as well as the local promoter’s preference.

Jun told the invited media, “The way I decided this, I find sponsors in this country and get their feedback.

“They’ll tell me, ‘You know what, this is coolest in the ‘net.’ For example, believe it or not, there’s a lot of demand for Jennifer Lopez since 2011. I listen to them carefully.

“But can I pick up the phone and call my friend and say, ‘Can we bring Jennifer Lopez to Manila?’ That’s how I go about it.”

Aside from talent booking, the company also suggests creative ideas to local promoters on how to sell the event to the public.

He related, “We also have to do some thematic on how we can do that and make it happen to you in a sense na hindi ka naman lugi.