The Live Music Industry in India

India as a country has always been one that is a music loving country. For Indians, music is not just a way to pass their time; but a way of expression, emotion and passion for them. They embody the vibe of music and it’s their go-to haven whenever they feel any emotion. If one comes to think of it, there is a song that’s been created for every emotion – whether you’re elated, low, frustrated, overjoyed, angry or simply want to rejuvenate yourself. You name it, and music has an answer to help you channelize your emotions. In fact, owing to the diverse nature of India as a country, there is never a dearth of the variety of music. India is home to a deep and rich culture of music, one which is a representation of their culture, art and essence.

Through this, one thing is clear – the Indian Music Industry will continue to hold its value and importance and to cater to that demand, more and more artists will continue to create memorable tunes and compositions. Not just culturally, but even if we were to believe statistics, they reiterate the growth the music industry is poised to see in the coming times. In 2020, the value of the Indian music industry is estimated to amount to around 18 billion Indian rupees and by 2023, have a market size of around 29.6 billion Indian Rupees.

In this overall market, the studio recording segment is and has always been extremely important. While newer segments like streaming services and live music performances have started gaining preference over the past couple of years, studio recording goes way back and contributes significantly to the music business in India. When the industry was nascent and in its early years of growth, studio recording had its own charm and honour attached to it. Every single artist, from the aspiring ones to the established ones, understood the charm of recording in a studio and the value that was attached to it. Everyone aspired to have their voice recorded in a studio, with that being the benchmark of announcing yourself in the industry.

Even today, that legacy and charm attached to studio recording continues. Contrary to some perception, the studio recording industry still hold prominence and contributes to the overall music industry business. While memorable music is created and recorded in studios, they are believed to be the centre of talent and the epitome of music as an art.

From the time studio recording started to till now, needless to say, the technology that goes into creating that final track has seen a significant development. While the passion continues to be the same, if not more, the technology has seen an evolution. That has a lot to do with the combined need of both, the audience consuming music, as well as the professional artists creating music. The equipment, gadgets, editing software have become more sophisticated, advanced and effective. Together, this has definitely contributed to enhancing the overall audio and music experience for creators and audience alike.

Understanding the need of this evolving audience, professional artists, creators and the overall industry, it is essential for brands to create products, equipment and technologies that contribute to their music creating process, making it an enjoyable one. With over a 70-year history that has been built on the culture of innovation and a vision to shape the future of the audio industry, Sennheiser aims to do exactly that. We are constantly creating products and offerings that enhance the audio experience for one and all, be it inside a studio or outside. Right from recording to performing, Sennheiser is a part of an artist’s journey through products that are indispensable to have a superior quality experience.

Specific to studio recording, the equipment is extremely sophisticated and advanced. By the nature of recording in a studio, even something as simple as loud breathing or an extra sound can completely change the output. So, we need products that are efficient and help maximise the in-studio performance. That is exactly where we come in – we have a wide range of offerings specific only to studio recording needs.

Our studio microphones are designed to fit the character of a certain instrument or the hue of a certain voice, and to compensate for inadequate room acoustics. And our studio monitoring headphones deliver high resolution audio quality, something that Sennheiser is known for. Be it products like IE 40 PRO, MK 4 Digital, HD 300 PRO, or the newly launched Neumann NDH 20, they are all as dynamic and as meticulous as artists themselves are.

Neumann’s first-ever headphone is bound to become a milestone: The NDH 20 offers uncompromised linearity and definition, just like our acclaimed studio loudspeakers, while its excellent isolation allows you to work anytime, anywhere. The NDH 20’s newly designed 38 mm drivers with high-gauss neodymium magnets ensure high sensitivity and low distortion. In other words, you won’t need a dedicated headphone amplifier; the NDH 20 sounds just as great on mobile devices such as laptop computers.

When it comes to studio recording, there is one studio which is synonymous with the entire Bollywood industry – the iconic Yash Raj Studios. At Sennheiser, we were fortunate to get an opportunity to engage with them and truly experience the heart and soul of a studio. Sometime late last year, Neumann, a part of the Sennheiser group and the world’s leading manufacturer of studio microphones, had sold two units of its legendary Neumann U67 mic to Yashraj Studios, making them the first ever owner of the mic in India. What made this an even bigger milestone for Sennheiser is the person whose voice was the first one to be recorded on this mic. Post the setting up of the mic in the studio, the first recording was done by the most venerable, respected, talented and exemplary singers the Bollywood industry has ever seen – non-other than Ms. Asha Bhosale ji. The reputed and talented sound engineers also acknowledged the role the mic played in helping them explore more possibilities with the music they create for their audience.

The music industry in India is poised for a significant growth in the coming decade and the studio recording segment will also see considerable growth and evolution. This will lead to an increase in demand for superior professional equipment with clutter-breaking technology, making it important for brands like us to constantly innovate and create the best to provide an impetus to the love for music this nation has.