PART 5 (also read : Part 4 | Part 3 | Part 2 | Part 1)

The Different Roles of the PROFESSIONAL Musician in India

Devotional : Spiritualism is deep-rooted in the psyche of the Indian mind and Indian Devotional Music is one of the steadiest selling repertoire of record companies in India. Bhajan and prayer meetings are held every day in India and the demand for musicians specialising in devotional music is constant. Also the latest best sellers include titles like "The Gayatri Mantra", "Ganesh" etc. and every recording company have their own version. One musician told me recently that he has at least 4-5 dates in a month where he provides the background music for such recordings. Every language in India has their own devotional superstar who commands a huge following at his concerts and sells in large quantities.

Folk : Folk artistes have always been held in awe by the people who are impressed with the earthy quality and energy of their music. Folk music is after all the music "of the people, by the people and for the people". Bhangra Pop is an excellent example of a folk form getting wide acceptance but the unadulterated variety also has huge local fan followings. This is true of all languages in India and we have a very rich and varied folk tradition and where like the language, the music too changes as you travel. The variety is truly mind boggling as we traverse the nation, from the Mizo tribes in the east to the Rajasthani Nomads in the west, from the Kashmiris in the North to the sounds of Carnatic Temple Music in the south.

TV : The media boom has opened enormous opportunities for creative people in the country and TV has become one of most important employers of musicians today. From talk shows, talent shows, antakshari, special live concerts to title and background music for serials and game shows, the amount of work generated is enormous and there is great demand for good, quick talent who is willing to work on a low budget and at odd times. This medium has truly become a boon for medium grade musicians who can polish their talent with the sheer amount of work they have to do. The work is constant and regular but it can overwhelm you with its demands as the deadline is paramount. All night long recordings are common and this can take a toll on your health and family life. But the rewards are plain to see and sacrifices have to be made for a steady growth in income and skills.

Advertising : Music for Advertising is an area for musicians which can be very rewarding if you can enter it. Advertising demands high quality work and if you can cut it the pay is fantastic! This has become the home of many musicians from the English scene as their "sophistication" comes useful to the needs of the promotion of the product to be advertised. Advertising demands variety, sophistication, versatility, finesse and panache and is not as easy as it sounds. It's far more difficult to make an impact in 30 secs than 3 mins. Ask any creative person! The attention to detail is tremendous and this is definitely not the place for Indians who still believe in the "Chalta Hai" philosophy. Jingles, Audio Visuals (AVs), product launches and corporate films are some of the avenues for music in Advertising.

Internet : The dot com revolution has finally hit India and as the sites multiply, so will the demand for the musicians. Portals in India have already started commissioning musicians to record songs for them to be downloaded. Also devotional sites demand religious music and children sites need nursery rhythms! The market is still to pick up in India but the demand can only rise as the PC penetration in the country advances.

Recently, the Music Industry is seeing tough times. The causes of this are manifold and involve the fast changing times of today and the need to come up with new business models to combat this. However Music today is getting more exposure than ever before and the demand for the Musician of the future is huge. In spite of enormous competition, there is no stopping the hardworking talented musician who is constantly in search of excellence. All he needs is bit of luck and he is on his way! It is indeed a wonder for me to see the sea change in the status of the musician in India where after being considered a good for nothing vagabond for so many years, he is being perceived to be an honourable professional who can command a hefty pay packet and also be a worthy son in law!

To be continued...

Nandoo Bhende : nandoo@sudeepaudio.com
The author is one of the pioneers of Pop and Rock Music in India.