By Arun Mehra,
CEO, Talenthouse India
Music has been one of the biggest influencers in my life. I grew up in the beautiful era of ‘80s retro and ‘90s grunge. It was a time when the only source of discovering music was Casey Kasem’s Top 20 on shortwave radio, much before YouTube and Spotify provided free access to unlimited music. The process of listening to music was limited but personal.
It was a time when you couldn’t simply download the best hits or look up the best songs by an artist or band; you had to be more invested in the music, listening to entire albums rather than singles. A portable radio or a small black and white television was the only way to access international music. Hours of watching Soundgarden, Pink Floyd and Pearl Jam influenced me in a deep way. I remember saving up for Pink Floyd CDs that were Rs 500 a pop. That’s what got me through doing hours of accounts homework. I always knew that music would become a part of my professional life, I just wasn’t sure how. Even though I played the euphonium and bass tuba, that phase only lasted through high school. Like many other Indian students, I gave into family pressure and graduated with an MBA, a degree I never truly made use of either.
My professional journey has led me to a variety of firms and companies, but somehow music has always been a recurring factor. When I got the chance to work at MTV, it was like a dream come true. I organized several events and concerts, and the years I spent there will always be memorable.
When I worked at Indiatimes, we collaborated with Channel V and hosted Pop Star Hunt, a first of its kind crowd sourced music show. At this time, there was a change in the way the audience was consuming music. They were no longer just watching television; they had, in a sense, become part of the musical journey.
Today, as the CEO of a creative crowd sourcing company, Talenthouse India, I am in a very interesting position. Exploring new and exciting avenues, and music continues to be a prominent feature. Music is one of the five domains Talenthouse specializes in, and we are constantly extending our platform to budding artists. We recently worked on ‘My Nation My Anthem’ a project in association with PVR and Hindustan Times, wherein we had young musicians work on a fresh take of the anthem. This rendition of the anthem ran in all PVR cinemas for a period of six months. Currently, we are working on Project Clubhouse, a venture we are pursuing with Absolut, wherein we have 50 young and upcoming DJs collaborating on an EDM track for the label. It has been an exhilarating experience and it is incredible to watch people kick start their career with us.
Today, musicians are in a very dynamic space because the opportunities are endless and there’s always a new avenue waiting to be explored. I am grateful to be a part of the ever-changing landscape of the music industry.
Feedback: arun@talenthouse.co.in
