Why Music Education Can Help
Indian Music Conquer the Global Stage
As of writing, the title track of the film ‘Saiyaara’ – bearing the same name – is the 9th most streamed song on Spotify’s daily “Global Top 50” playlist. It has gained considerable traction outside of India, surpassing music made by famous artists such as Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and even Blackpink. Its success is reflective of a recent trend in Indian music, one where more songs produced within the country are gaining recognition in foreign music markets.
Alongside tracks like ‘Big Dawgs’ by Hanumankind, and ‘Katchi Sera’ by Sai Abhyankar, ‘Saiyaara’ is an example of the quality of musical entertainment that India can produce and deliver to the rest of the world. With this in mind, we think this trend is, more than anything, an opportunity to bolster our music economy and support local musicianship. The key to unlocking this potential? Better. Music. Education!
Here are three reasons why we think good musical training can help Indian artists conquer the global stage:
Stylistic Versatility
India isn’t the first country to churn out chart topping hits. Every country has skin in the game, and the trick, we believe, to building a truly global “Indian music industry”, is a repertoire of music that blends the best and latest from the west with the same from the east. Not only is fusion music consistently chart topping, but it is an easy gateway to international collaborations between artists and music businesses. Take for example this recent single released by Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh.
Good educational programs in music focus on developing musical versatility – i.e. – expertise in creating and blending multiple genres of music. This requires a thorough understanding of musical theory and notation (again, across western and eastern systems), and proficiency in composition and arrangement, to innovate creative ways of amalgamating styles. Moreover, it demands skills in collaboration & communication to engage with different cultures and audiences.
Supporting Musicianship
In India, music is still largely viewed as “too risky” of a career choice. Support systems for artists are few and far, making it financially challenging for many to export an IP of the stature of a ‘Big Dawgs’ or ‘Saiyaara’ without the backing of a film production or record company. Producing a hit global song requires more than being able to write a good track, making it crucial to train the next generation of artists and music professionals so that they can achieve financial and creative sustainability.
We’ve observed that creating musical IPs is a tried and tested way of making a living as an artist. Whether it be advertising jingles or entire film scores, becoming a producer of commercial music enables consistent revenue generation (through royalty payments, contract work, etc), in turn allowing more flexibility to create original music. Music programs that emphasise this will help create skilled professionals who are equipped to deal with the realities of commercial music, and, better yet, offer quality musical services to foreign markets.
Soft Power
What do North America and South Korea have in common? A large influence on global pop music. Whether it’s the lyrical prowess of Taylor Swift or the aura of Kpop’s BTS, both countries have done well to export their cultures through music and reap economic benefits. With the emergence of indie music in India, and subsequently ‘Indian Pop (or iPop), the country has the opportunity to deliver both high quality music and highly skilled music professionals to other countries, potentially bolstering its economy and making music a far more viable career choice for its aspiring musicians.
Music education will be crucial here, both in terms of enabling the versatility and sustainability mentioned above, as well as in creating gateways for local musicians to find work in foreign music markets. This includes program pathways to foreign music schools, as well as collaborations with foreign artists and industry professionals to foster cultural exchange & nurture the right skills for Indian students. This also entails engaging with the Indian diaspora, from which several musicians have emerged and are already catering to audiences in their respective countries.
Conclusion
The recent uptick in global interest in Indian music is a chance to support musicianship and bolster the local music economy. With better music programs and access to structured learning, more talent can be nurtured and the supply of skilled professionals to the global stage can be multiplied. The end result will be more global hits, and more interest in India as a source of innovative musical entertainment.
