Music is an expression of the inner feelings and it transcends the barrier of language, gender and religion. To the artists, music is god. The Nepali music industry has seen a rise in the quality of music over the years but the music companies are undergoing huge losses. One of the reasons for this is the fluctuating economy while the other is piracy. The industry has advanced in the use of digital technology over the last few years. While the digital technology allows the artists to present their talent better, it is also the reason for their losses. Despite that, artists of Nepal are rocking their music not only here but also abroad. Music education is also developing in the country and looks full of prospects.
Nepal is famous in the world for its unique culture and multiple ethnic groups. With more than fifty ethnicities, the music of Nepal is highly diverse. The country’s maximum number of bands exist in Kathmandu and popular international musical cultures like pop, rock, folk and rap are selling hugely not only here but also abroad. However, the foreign companies are not committed to producing Nepali music.
Music companies of Nepal are engaged in producing and distributing audio, video and movies and selling music albums, promoting and managing artists and their activities in the entertainment industry, such as performing in music albums, music videos, films, stage shows, endorsements, advertisements and personal appearances.
Taal Music is among the most renowned music companies of Nepal. It holds soundtrack and video copyright of at least 350 renowned artists of Nepal. Mohammed Aslam Khan, the founder of the company says, his company’s performance is driven by a real enthusiasm for quality in the Nepali music industry. ‘We represent artists who share this motivation and produce innovative and progressive music, setting our own agenda rather than following the obvious trends,’ adds Khan. According to him the company wants to revolutionize the music industry as the old management system has been good neither for the artists, nor for the fans.
Piracy is a great problem in the Nepali music industry. In fact, the digital technology has brought many disadvantages. While it has helped to improve the quality of recording, it is the main reason behind the shrinking market, says the industrialists. As a result, the artists and music producing companies of Nepal are facing difficulties in making profits. New investments are not being made in this sector due to the fear of loss.
Music education is also developing as an industry today. The Nepal Music Center (NMC), a non-profit organization established by Music Nepal to undertake non-commercial activities in the fields of music and culture, also works for preservation of Nepal’s heritage. NMC works to preserve, teach and promote the music and dance of various ethnic groups of Nepal. It works in collaboration with Rikskonsertene (concerts Norway). NMC mainly focuses on formal music education, research documentation, international exchange and promotion of the local music cultures.
Nepal Music Educator’s Society (NMES) is headqutered at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory Campus in Gyan Mandala, Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur. NMES can provide copies of a Nepali music curriculum in Nepali and English. Every Saturday morning, it holds workshops about music teaching. Some of the topics covered are music theory, lesson planning, event and classroom management. NMES participants are regularly presented with opportunities to go to the guest workshops, lectures, performances, and conferences by international musicians, teachers, and organizations.
