Media and Music

1.    Introduction

Media has become a vital and seamless part of everyday human life. Today’s society is dependent on media —from morning newspaper, radio and television news to social media feeds and blog posts; from personalized advertising messages to branded content sponsored by a specific company. Messages sent by mass communicators help inform the public and often help set agendas and public opinion. It helps people develop an understanding of social problems and make informed decisions. The general public is dependent on mass communication for information about goods and services available for purchase or use. Trained media people know the best way for their messages to reach the most people or the people most interested in the messages. Through journalism, mass communicators use newspapers, television, radio, magazines, blogs, websites, mobile apps and social media to reach their publics. The use of effective media channels is becoming even more important in today’s fast-paced and global environment. The study and implications of media, as well as the understanding of effective, ethical and diverse messaging, has never been more important.

Music is an art form whose medium is sound. Its common elements are pitch which governs melody and harmony, rhythm and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation, dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of music vary according to culture and social context. Music ranges from strictly organized compositions within the arts, music may be classified as a performing art, a fine art, and auditory art. It may also be divided among art music and folk music. Music may be played and heard live, may be part of a dramatic work or film, or may be recorded. Problems of defining music also arise from differences in the conception of music in different cultures.

Dr. Taranath Sharma writes in his article that music is greater than the literature. Many critics claim classical music as Indian music but the young demanded singer Shiva Pariyar claim that music has no caste. Whether it is Indian or non-Indian, to learn classical music is very much essential. When you don't understand others music, you also don't understand yours.  He complaints that there is no more deep study regarding music.

2.    Statement of a problem

The history of Nepali journalism is very short compare to other countries. It differs with the investment and professionalism. Nepali journalism still does not have mentionable golden age. Journalism is based on events or incidents rather than research based in Nepal. It seems like the intention of big media house is not for the public interest. The reason might be the investors of media who belongs to business industry and from elite group. Small and alternative media have less access of investment and man power. That’s why they are compelled to produce event based news materials.

3.     Review of literature

Many books, chapters and articles have been written regarding the music and also for music. Many media are using music as the promotional tool either by organizing musical concerts and tours. Music itself is deeming without media nowadays, it is getting groomed by the media. It seems like they are dependent in each other but there is lack of study and research of connection between media and music. This mini research would try to find out their relationship in a real sense.

4.    Objective

The study has focused on the role of media and music for promoting themselves as vice versa. It also talks about their relationship. Therefore the objective of the study is to know how the media and music are existing in the current society.

5.    Methodology

This mini study Media and Music is more focused on the print and social media. The study is descriptive in nature and basically qualitative in nature. To meet the objectives, tools like interview, discussion and field observation is used. Individual interviews are carried out with music experts, media professionals, singers and the music lovers. Comprehensive observation is also conducted inside the music studio and newspaper publication houses. Academic published documents, books, magazines, newspapers related to the music and media are also reviewed and analyzed to support the completion of this mini research.

6.    Relation of Media and Music

Media has no credit for evolvement and creation of music but yes it helped to develop and for the access and reach. Media also helped music to be promoted. In fact, music is come up with the human civilization. Music itself is the message. The inner color and mood represents the messages. Melodies of the music like sadness, romanticism, happiness all are forms of messages. Some people even commit suicide after listening music.

Music is the mixture of academic and practical thing but not the part time profession. Music can defined in various ways like it has made us the real mankind. This is the colorful part of our life. This is the base of our survival and also hiding the secret meaning of life. Music has no definition; it is like an ocean and like the world. Music is God gifted and to have the music sense is inborn quality.

According to the singer Jhuma Wanem, the ninety eight percent of the songs are just songs in Nepal they can't be called as composition in present context. She claims that till now in Nepal, Ambar Gurung, Natikaji and Narayangopal are only the real composers of Nepal who created songs according to the guidelines of song writing and composition. There is no university that teaches the music composition in Nepal. There is lack of discourse and discussion regarding the music. (Jhuma Wanem is the Nepali lady singer who has recently brought the 120 minutes long music album named Khaasaam after the four years of research. She claims this music album as the sample music of Limbus in fact the sample of ethnic music.)

Another legend singer Lakpa Sherpa  claims that the music in present condition is leading by the media. This is in fact the responsibility of Sangeet tatha Natya Pratisthan. He adds that there is the extreme need of labeling of music. People with money and businessman are spoiling the music industry. There is one type who only runs after media and is busy in following journalists, and there is also another type who really enjoys in the musical world. To maintain these both work is quite challengeable. Many studios are in loss nowadays as well as many skills such as link, money and attitude needs to exist in musical career.

7.    Media coverage for music

There is no specific column for music in media especially in newspapers. Music and entertainment is the integral part of any media house. Without music there is no newspaper selling. There is no special edition, column, department and investment for the music. But the truth is media house can't run without music because music is the major part of entertainment. Papers like Saptahik, Sukrabar, Sangeet Sarobar, Music Diary and so on only presents the events, activities and reports but there is lack of intellectual discussions, ingredients, social views and programs inside that. Some of the musical onlines and TV, Radio programs also do the same.  Daily papers like Nagarik, Kantipur, Rajdhani, Naya Patrika also present entertainment news in a same column.

Phulman Bal (Co-ordinator of Kalaa ra Shailee at Kantipur National Daily) puts his argument regarding media and music differently. Singers came traditionally before but now the singers are emerging with academically. Young singers have full of energy and creativity but no patience. Music has become the medium to show the presence and identity in society. They are running for fame and popularity.  They are investing more for promos and ads rather than doing reeyaz. He also talks about the media that as there is no long history of professional journalism in Nepal, no fair journalism is existing. Who invest lot and his/her song, video would be played more time. In fact, media should pay for playing their music but just opposite system artists pay to media. It seems funny. There is extreme need to raise the issues for the government policy regarding royalty and piracy mechanism. But no one even media is silent for this case. He further adds that there is no influence of editor while covering and writing news. Kalaa ra Shailee is the two pages column comes everyday. Besides this, Kantipur also publish Kosheli and Hello Sukarabar as a entertainment supplementary page. The   nature of Kalaa ra Shailee is event based though after looking the detail story and its importance, follow up is done alwyas. Research based stories are also prioritize sometime. Lastly, he agrees in the changing characteristic of the market.

8.    Social Media and Music

Musicians are seeing the value in taking more control over their image rather than letting a second party like their record label do it for them. The personal nature that social media offers provides a sense of closeness to the artist for the fans and ownership for the musicians themselves. The image of a musician has become more tangible in today’s world compared to the fabricated enigma it once was. The more a musician contributes to their social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, the more approachable they seem. Social media has become the press kit of the future, acting as a one-stop shop for photos, tour dates, discography and samples of new music. In the past, musicians and music lovers relied on magazines, television and radio as their preferred media channels. Today, most people rely on social media as a way to discover new artists and keep up to date with the world of music in general. We’re given instant access to information by artists and self-appointed musical enthusiasts over blogs, sites, Twitter accounts and Facebook pages. These people have come to be more trusted than big name labels because they run their social media pages out of passion, not obligation. Artists have been cleverly using social media to their advantage. While some artists claim that social media has helped maintain their image and helped develop a loyal fan base, others are more thankful for it because it launched their career. And of course, the best place to have their work seen is on YouTube. Artists are maintaining their brand on social media, but they try to be as hands-on as possible to connect with their fans virtually. They get all of the comments on the Facebook and Twitter, giving directions to them based on the responses from their fans. Some other artists who have a strong social media presence have millions and millions followers. Social media isn’t just for younger musicians but for all. Marketing strategies for both the younger and older generations of musicians are quite varied. Those who have already established themselves in pre social platforms concentrate on maintaining their brand, promoting themselves with only the occasional fan interaction. The younger generations, on the other hand, are building their image by responding to as many fans as possible so that they’re viewed as down to earth individuals, with less of an emphasis on blatant self promotion. 

9.    Synopsis

The role of the media is all the more critical today when the urban context for music has seen sharp changes. The discussion on music usually focused on classical music but there was a greater unknown musical heritage in the folk and non-classical music traditions as well. When the technology developed unexpectedly, the listening trend of music has also changed. Music players like wakman, diskman, mini disk player, old mobile phones have turned into ipod, iphone, MP3 and MP4. News value for the media also depending upon the access as commercial thing came on music industry. Media and music are unknowingly setting in the sense of benefit and security. It is already discussed that music is God gifted but now anyone can sing because most of the singers have machinery vocal. No one thinks about his/her culture let say cultural or folk, ethno-music. Music industry is running but question raise like where is the originality and typicality to show the own identity. Writer and musician Avas remembers the time of Radio Nepal. There was one time when anyone needed to pass the voice test in Radio Nepal to become the singer. There was no unhealthy competition at a time. Gradually privatization increased when Music Nepal entered. Monopoly also started unknowingly.

It can be claimed from the above presented study that media and music are ruining each other. Media is losing its credibility and public trust due to the news coverage with many reasons. Musicians (not all) are also producing music for fame and cheap popularity rather than the contribution in music history and coming generation. There are many aspects that can cover by media such as thoughts of music teachers/Gurus, thoughts of music experts and intellectuals, folk music, folk instruments, Lok Vaka, relation of music and societal life, reports of researchers, writers and so on.  

Bibliography

Acharya, S. (2056B.S.). Sangeetamrit Prathamhuti. Second Edition. Kathmandu: Sangeetamrit Publication Committee.

Jangam, D., Rawal, B. (2000 AD). Sangeet Suravi. Kathmandu: Bhrikuti Pustak Bhandar.

           

Article Sangeetko Mahima by Taranath Sharma at Nepal Magazine,

1-15 Mangsir 2058

Article Nepali Sangeetko Arohan by Avas at Nagarilk National Daily,

3 Falgun 2070