IS MUSIC INDUSTRY RUN ON FAVOURITISM: WE BRING YOU BOTH SIDES
Last week, singer-composer Sonu Nigam (in picture) posted a video urging music labels to be “sensitive towards new talent” in the music industry. And on Monday, Nigam posted another video on Instagram. This time, he came down heavily on the bigwigs in the music
ARKO PRAVO MUKHERJEE, Musician In films it should be the decision of the filmmaker and music director. But sometimes the voice we choose has to be changed, the label insists on one of their signed singers. As a business model, it makes more money. If it’s a big hit, the singer’s price goes up, so does the label’s cut. industry alleging that they are trying to get musicians to speak against him to publications and write on their respective social media accounts. In the video, he claimed that all this is being done to silence his voice, and claims that nepotism and favouritism do exist in the music industry.
ANKIT TIWARI, Singer Nepotism is there, maybe we don’t focus on it much because we’ve got used to such an atmosphere. Favourites hote hain. Priority unki hoti hai jo music company ke close hain, it’s not necessary they are signed. What happens is, if I sing a song, they won’t say remove this song, they will say ‘Ankit won’t sing it’.
SONA MOHAPATRA, Musician “Unfortunately & sadly, music composers & directors have zero say on who sings their songs. After scores of random rejections on compositions, they’d rather just get a project done with. I respect young Vishal Mishra for having stood his ground to retain my voice in Baby Gold, RARE,” she tweeted on Monday.
MANOJ MUNTASHIR, Lyricist
We can’t blatantly deny the power game that runs deep. Singers are the worst-affected. They are forced to sign contracts which can beat bonded labour. To bag a film, talent is not the criteria any more. Opportunities are drying up.
JASLEEN ROYAL, Musician It’s a business model of the labels to give more songs to their artistes, but it’s your choice if you want to sign. Coming from Sonu, it is surprising and shocking. He’s one of the biggest names, so he saying this holds some truth. I’ve had offers to sign up, but I always said I want to work on my own terms.
Nepotism and favouritism — these two words refuse to fade from the public domain when it comes to Bollywood. The former, especially, is the current hot word too, social media being abuzz with talk of
KAVITA SETH, Singer
I am not under any contract with a label. I have a very unique voice and composers contact me keeping that in mind. Having said that, I’ve heard this numerous times from my colleagues in the industry. It’s unjust and not acceptable. As an artiste we need to get our dues. how contacts and not talent come into play for films. And singer Sonu Nigam dropped one more bomb in his recent video, claiming that this happens in the music industry as well, and newcomer singers don’t get
SHAAN, Singer
Nepotism in music is very difficult. There are many who have come and struggled. At some point, they can’t tell their children, ‘Get lost, find another work, people will blame me for nepotism!’ They will get chances, but so many star kids have been failures, no nepotism helped them..
SHASHAA TIRUPATI, Singer
Merit does and will always hold value. It’s about persistence and effort. I’ve been given opportunities by perhaps every music label in the country to sing for films in most industries, without being tied up with any particular label. I came with zero contacts. We all have a journey.
SHILPA RAO, Singer
I have never gone through this because mostly the composers call me for a song, be it Vishal-shekhar or Pritam or whoever it is. So, I have just gone in and done my song and I am actually known for not being very visible anyway. I don’t go anywhere, but all I can say is I have not gone through this. enough chances.
Is that the case? We spoke to a spectrum of musicians, and while some agreed that favouritism is indeed allpervading, others felt that talent trumps all.
JUBIN NAUTIYAL, Singer
What matters is how good you are at your craft. We are in a line where billions judge us for our work, you can’t manipulate a billion minds. In this line of work, what matters is what sounds good to the ear, otherwise, a Jubin, Arijit Singh or even Sonu Nigam won’t have happened. Unhone kaam karke diya.