Thúy Nga Inc. (ⓘ) (dba Thúy Nga Productions, variously referred to as Thúy Nga Incorporated, Thúy Nga Paris, and Trung Tâm Thúy Nga) is an American entertainment company founded in 1984 in Paris, and currently based in Westminster, California. The private company is known for its Vietnamese-oriented entertainment, such as the variety show and direct-to-video series Paris by Night, and music released as part of the record label Thúy Nga Music.
 Company logo used since 2011 | |
Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Genre | |
| Founded | 1972, Saigon, South Vietnam 1983, Paris, France |
| Founder | Tô Văn Lai |
| Headquarters | 14882 Moran St, Westminster, California 92863, U.S. |
Area served |
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Key people | Tô Văn Lai (Chairman, Deceased) Marie Tô Ngọc Thủy (President/CEO) |
| Products |
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| Divisions |
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| Website | thuynga |
History
edit1963–2000: Background and founding
editFounder Tô Văn Lai first formed a music company in 1963, in Saigon, South Vietnam, as a precursor for the current company and record label.[1] After the Fall of Saigon, the company had to stop operating for a period of time.
Tô began operations for Thúy Nga in 1984, in Paris, France, starting with production for the show Paris by Night. Afterwards, the company transferred to Orange County, California, which has one of the largest Vietnamese populations outside of Vietnam.[2] The company has since produced more shows in the series, along with other videos, and a catalog of albums by various artists from the Thúy Nga Music record label.
2000–present: Global spread and digital piracy issues
editIn the 21st century, Thuy Nga Productions has held Paris by Night programs and joint concerts around the world beyond France and the United States, in Canada, Finland, Germany, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia, attracting Vietnamese audiences, both from the native country of Vietnam, and residents and/or citizens in these countries respectively.
Over time, Thuy Nga Productions began to lose revenue due to the piracy of the video and album releases, with chief executive Marie To commenting, "Profit? We are barely making it." Works released by the company are also banned in Vietnam, which has the largest source of pirates.[3]
Due to the rampant online piracy, Vietnamese entertainment companies have ceased productions, with exceptions being Thúy Nga, Garden Grove-based Asia Entertainment, and Vân Sơn. In 2008, Marie To commented, "Ten years ago, there were about two dozen music studios; now only three labels are active."[4] In 2010, Thúy Nga nearly shut down, but narrowly avoided it due to community support and new business strategies, which included lowering the cost to perform at venues and increasing advertising.[3]
The company has since moved to social media by 2010, posting videos of Paris by Night performances and full albums on YouTube along with advertising, to attract audiences to purchase the label's works.[3]
Organization
editAlthough production for the company's products includes various freelance workers, producers, directors, and such, the full-time staff is limited to about a dozen people. Many singers for the company have originated in Orange County.[3]
In addition to its headquarters at Westminster, California, and its original headquarters in Paris, Thúy Nga also has regional sales and distribution centers in Toronto, Canada, and in Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia. The company also transferred part of its Australian distribution rights to a local music center at Footscray, Victoria.[citation needed]
Associated labels
editArtists
editThese artists have released albums (billed as a main artist) under the main Thúy Nga Music label.
References
edit- ↑ "MC Thanh Bạch và bà trùm Thuý Nga sau 9 lần làm đám cưới giờ thế nào?". VietNamNet (in Vietnamese). 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ↑ "For Vietnamese, 'Paris By Night' is a mix of Vegas, nostalgia and pre-war culture". Public Radio International. 2014-02-10. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- 1 2 3 4 "MEDIA: Vietnamese juggernaut 'Paris by Night' struggles to survive". Press Enterprise. 2015-08-02. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ↑ Do, Quyen (2008-05-10). "Singer Minh Tuyet dreams big in Little Saigon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ↑ "Tâm Tình Cùng Bạn Đọc". Tuần Báo Mõ (in Vietnamese). San Francisco. February 1997. Archived from the original on 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
- ↑ Thuy Nga (2016-12-31). "Paris By Night 52 - Giã Từ Thế Kỷ (Full Program)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2019-01-23.