Lex Talk Music

Send us a textIn conversation with Prarthana Sen and Vishruti Bindal, the founders of Neon Culture and driving forces behind the Deccan Alternative Music Conference (DAMC).Prarthana Sen and Vishruti Bindal bring a wealth of experience and passion to India's independent music landscape, making significant strides toward fostering a more inclusive and innovative industry. Prarthana, formerly with Sofar Sounds, played a pivotal role in building global communities and providing indie artists with an intimate, impactful platform to showcase their talent. As one of the founding members of Music Tech India—and notably the only woman in the founding team—she has championed innovation and equity in music tech and indie spaces alike.Vishruti, a multi-faceted music business professional has worked across audio engineering, music curation, artist management, education, and music supervision. She currently serves as an instructor at Berklee, teaching the Global Emerging Markets and Music Cities Policy module, and as Project Manager at Sound Diplomacy's Momentual. Vishruti led the Bengaluru Music City analysis in 2021, creating the city's only primary data source for music, and spearheaded the Music Cities European Exchange 2023 in collaboration with the EU Commission.In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of these two trailblazing women, the inception of Neon Culture, and their vision for DAMC. They share insights into their respective career trajectories, their dedication to community building and advocacy, and how they're shaping Neon Culture to amplify independent voices.Join us as we discuss the origins of DAMC, its transformative role in India's music industry, and what to expect from its second edition in Kochi this February 7th and 8th, 2025.For more details about DAMC, visit www.deccanalt.in. For any other query, please write into hello@lextalkmusic.com.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes. © Sandhya Surendran, 2025. All rights reserved.

Send us a textIn conversation with Rafael Pereira and Sushil Chhugani, two key figures advancing India's independent music movement. As founding members of India Music Exchange (IMX) and active contributors to India International Music Week (IIMW), they have played a pivotal role in bringing together artists, publishers, and entrepreneurs to expand India's musical reach worldwide.Rafael, an intellectual property strategist and web3 oracle, utilizes his legal and technological expertise to guide creators through the rapidly evolving digital space. Sushil, the Founder and Director of Stubborn Company, brings a wealth of experience in nurturing emerging talent and enriching India's diverse music culture. In this episode we discuss IMX and IIMW, their respective objectives and their goals to promote collaboration, drive industry growth, and create international opportunities for Indian musicians.For more information about IMX, write in to projects@indiamusicexchange.org. For any other query, please write into hello@lextalkmusic.com.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes. © Sandhya Surendran, 2024. All rights reserved.

Send us a textIn conversation with Shubha Mudgal, a powerhouse Indian vocalist who has spent decades navigating the vibrant world of Hindustani classical and contemporary music. With an illustrious career that has earned her prestigious accolades including a National Film Award for non-fiction film music in the year 1995, the Gold Plaque Award at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1998, and the Padma Shri in the year 2000, Shubha Mudgal has become synonymous with both bold innovation and profound respect for tradition. Join us as we delve into her remarkable journey—examining how she honed her craft under the tutelage of renowned mentors, forged a distinctive artistic identity, and continues to redefine the creative landscape, all while championing artists' rights and inspiring audiences worldwide.For any enquiries, please mail us at hello@lextalkmusic.com.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes. © Sandhya Surendran, 2024. All rights reserved.

Send us a Text Message.In conversation with Rumpa Banerjee, Head of Marketing, Communication & Member Relations at the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS). IPRS was established in 1969 and has been a witness to all the major milestones achieved by the music industry. Today, for an artist, registering with a copyright society is a non-negotiable and in this episode we dive into the workings of IPRS, how it interacts with other industry stakeholders and its importance to songwriters. If you are an artist or artist manager debating registering with IPRS or any copyright society for that matter, this episode is especially for you. Join us as we bust myths and dispel concerns around this subject, and don't forget to take notes!The Lex Talk Music theme is written and composed by Sanjeev T.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes. © Sandhya Surendran, 2024. All rights reserved.

In conversation with Dhruv Singh, founder and head honcho at Pagal Haina. After a degree in film production and valuable stints in theatre, sports management, television, events and film, Dhruv founded Pagal Haina in 2011. Pagal Haina is an artist development agency and record label representing some of the finest independent artists in India including Peter Cat Recording Co., Lifafa, The F16s, Ditty, Shantanu Pandit, Karshni, Rounak Maiti, Run it's the Kid, Shashwat Bulusu and more.Dhruv was instrumental in discovering singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad and represented him from early origins till late 2018 during which time, Pagal Haina oversaw Kuhad's rise from a new artist to Indie stardom to becoming India's most prominent, truly independent global artist before signing a major label deal in 2020.   Listen in for some candid real talk as we discuss Dhruv's transition into the music industry, the business of the indie label and other no nonsense straight up truth bombs.The Lex Talk Music theme is written and composed by Sanjeev T.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes. © Sandhya Surendran, 2024. All rights reserved.

In conversation with Tej Brar, currently heading Festivals & Live Events at Nodwin Gaming with an illustrious list of achievements in the music industry. He's been manager to some of the biggest names in the Indian music scene through OML and through his own firm, Third Culture - from Nucleya, Raja Kumari, Dualist Inquiry to J Babe, Kayan and the coolest hippest Indian indie artists of our time. Join us as we discuss his journey through the music industry, his learnings as an artist manager, what artists can learn from those lessons and so much more in this very wholesome conversation.For more information or inquiries write to hello@lextalkmusic.com. © Sandhya Surendran, 2023. All rights reserved. The Lex Talk Music theme is written and composed by Sanjeev T.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.

In conversation with Mansoor Rahimat Khan, CEO and co-founder of Beatoven.ai - India's first generative AI music production platforms. Mansoor is a seventh-generation sitar player and was also named in the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list in 2023. Beatoven has been gaining as much traction as attention from around the world and as an artist himself, Mansoor has been very particular about the ethics behind his AI model. What we are currently witnessing in the field of AI is historical and the next five years  are going to be crucial to how these developments will impact humanity. Join Mansoor and me as we talk about Beatoven, the upheavals to AI in 2023 and what it means for the creative community.For more information or inquiries write to hello@lextalkmusic.com.© Sandhya Surendran, 2023. All rights reserved. This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes. The Lex Talk Music theme is written and composed by Sanjeev T.

In conversation with Anurag Tagat, music journalist and concert aficionado. Anurag is a name that both the artist and the music buff are familiar with. In his career as a music journalist in the last decade and more, he has written for the biggest publications in India and abroad, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Hindu, LiveMint and more. He is currently the Assistant Editor at Rolling Stone, India and is a frequent contributor to several other prestigious publications. Join us as we discuss his journey as a music journalist, his love for independent music, navigating bias while reviewing and so much more.For more information or inquiries write to hello@lextalkmusic.com.© Sandhya Surendran, 2023. All rights reserved. This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes. The Lex Talk Music theme is written and composed by Sanjeev T.

In conversation with Vijay Basrur, founder of OK Listen, India's first DIY music distribution and digital download platform. OK Listen was a groundbreaking development that changed India's music industry and offered indie artists a platform where they could showcase their original music, without having to rely on record labels for distribution and without giving up any of their rights. He has worked in the industry for over two decades and comes from the corporate world, where he worked in senior management roles at companies like Quikr, Inox, and Raymond. Join us as we discuss his journey into the music industry, explore the music distribution ecosystem, debate about record labels and what artists can do to solidify their career in music.For more information or inquiries write to hello@lextalkmusic.com or reach out directly to Vijay at vijay@oklisten.com. © Sandhya Surendran, 2023. All rights reserved. This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes. The Lex Talk Music theme is written and composed by Sanjeev T.

In conversation with Kaber Vasuki, a prolific songwriter, composer and artist from the Tamizh music & film industry. He was one of the first Tamizh artists to crowdfund his album, Azhagu Puratchi and is also known for the genre-fluid unique work he did with Kurangan, the indie band he co-founded with Tenma. In this (long overdue) second leg of the NFT series in the music industry, tune in to my chat with Kaber as we discuss everything about his journey as a musician, the importance of early supporters as an artist and how Metakovan and NFTs got him in the news.For more information or inquiries write to hello@lextalkmusic.com.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2022

In conversation with Vishakha Singh, founder and VP of the WazirX NFT Marketplace. It's not everyday you come across a powerhouse that juggles multiples roles with flair - actor, producer, creator and crypto buff, Vishakha has worked across the spectrum of the entertainment industry. NFTs, cryptocurrency and blockchain are not just all the rage, but definitely here to stay. Join us on the inaugural episode of LTM's three-part series on NFTs in the creative sector, where I speak to Vishakha about her journey as an artist into the NFT space and why non-fungible token or NFTs are important to the creative community. For more information or inquiries write to hello@lextalkmusic.com or reach out directly to the WazirX NFT Marketplace at nft@wazirx.com. Follow them on Discord (https://discord.com/invite/rzjqR7zudj) and on Instagram (@wazirxnft).This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2022

In conversation with Atul Churamani, founder and Managing Director of Turnkey Music & Publishing. With an illustrious career spanning more than three decades, Atul has seen it all when it comes to the music industry in India, and therefore safe to say that he is truly an expert when it comes to how things works in the business - whether it's about music publishing, distribution, copyrights, record labels, A&R - you name it! Join us on this insightful conversation, as we discuss Atul's phenomenal experiences through his career, how Turnkey came into existence, his thoughts about the industry and the laws in India and so much more.For more information or inquiries write to hello@lextalkmusic.com or reach out directly to Atul at atul.churamani@turnkeymusic.in.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2021

In conversation with Yama Seth and Anirudh Voleti, artist managers at one of India's best artist management firms, Big Bad Wolf. Having managed the likes of the finest indie names in the business like Indian Ocean, Karsh Kale, Prateek Kuhad, Parvaaz, both Yama and Anirudh have a ton of stories, which makes each of their experience as an artist manager so much more insightful. Artist management is a nuanced profession, and has everything to do with people management, your love for music, your understanding of the local industry and your ability to adapt to the situation, keeping your artist's best interests in mind. Join us on this special episode as we walk through each of their careers, the lessons they've learnt and the key takeaways for anyone aspiring to become an artist manager.For more information or inquiries write to hello@lextalkmusic.com or reach out directly to Yama at yama@bigbadwolf.in or Anirudh at anirudh@bigbadwolf.in.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2021

In conversation with Jataneel Banerjee, a multifaceted music industry professional — he wears many hats: music producer, composer, copyright consultant, founder of the Grand Philharmonic Orchestra and relationship manager at PRS for Music, UK handling memberships for songwriters from Southern Asia. Given the growing importance of the digital media in music, copyright societies play a critical role in ensuring that songwriters have a steady stream of revenue. Join us as we talk about copyright societies, the importance of being a members, how they work and collect royalties, Jataneel’s career graph and his rendezvous with the film industry through the Grand Philharmonic Orchestra.For more information or inquiries write to info@lexic.in or reach out directly to Jataneel at Jataneel.Banerjee@prsformusic.com.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lextalkmusic)

In conversation with Padmanabhan NS (aka Paddy), an industry veteran who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music business, be it EMI, Universal, Radio City and now with Spotify India. His experience with the evolution of the digital music industry in India adds to his vast profile and every musician knows him to be a friend and a genuine well-wisher of the entire music scene in the country, especially given that he is a musician too. Join us as we talk about the digital explosion, Spotify's interest in artists, Paddy's experience through his career across record labels, radio and now streaming.For more information or inquiries write to info@lexic.in This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lextalkmusic)

In conversation with Amit Gurbaxani, one of India's few music journalists and perhaps the only one focusing on industry insights, business trends in India and abroad. He has written for some of the world's leading publications, including Billboard, Musically, Rolling Stone, The Guardian and others. Join us as we deep dive into the music business, how streaming works, Amit's experience as a music journalist and so much more.For more information or inquiries write to info@lexic.in This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2020Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lextalkmusic)

In conversation with Sanjeev T, music producer, singer, rock star guitarist and founder of Rainbow Bridge, a production studio and music academy that is all about encouraging the musician community. Join us as we talk about everything music -- working in the film industry, his experience with the Indian indie scene in the last 20 years and a whole lot more.For more information or inquiries write to info@lexic.in This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2020Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lextalkmusic)

In conversation with Ritnika Nayan, Head of CD Baby India and founder of Music Gets Me High (MGMH), an artist management consultancy and the only establishment to offer a dedicated course on the music business in India. Join us as we talk about her book on the India indie music industry, her experiences as an artist management and festival curator, the Guns & Roses tour in India, publishing and record labels in India and a whole lot more.For more information or inquiries write to info@lexic.in This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2020Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lextalkmusic)

In conversation with Manojna Yeluri, entertainment lawyer and founder of Artistik License, a pioneer business & legal consultancy for creative professionals. Join us as we talk about the indie music industry in India, the challenges faced by indie artists, how to deal with them and the benefits of collective bargaining.For more information or inquiries write to info@lexic.in This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2020

In conversation with Priyanka Khimani, one of India's leading media & entertainment lawyers and founder partner at Anand & Anand & Khimani, Mumbai. Join us as we talk about the law affecting the music business: performer’s rights, plagiarism, industry practices, contracts, licensing and some other interesting inside information, including the importance of metadata and getting the right professional advice.For more information or inquiries write to info@lexic.in This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2020

A look at how to use samples, make remixes and produce covers the right way, along with the realities of unauthorized use and potential issues.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2019

A primer on what copyrights are, how they apply to music, who they include and an overall look at royalties & revenue generation for musicians.This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.(c) Sandhya Surendran, 2019