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DEVELOPING POTENTIAL IN YOUNG PEOPLE

Documenting Independent Music: Music Journalism

Date: 23/01/2011
Venue: The India Habitat Centre

Print Journalism: Criticism VS writing: Uday Benegal

Key points made:

 A critic should know his/her craft. The ability to write analytically is very important.
 There is a distinction to be made between ‘critiquing’ and ‘criticism’. Opinions should be backed
up by a reason validating the same. Criticism is a subjective process, but you have to be as
objective as you possibly can. “Diss what you want, but with logic’”!

 Language and grammar is key in this process. Suggested references for the same:

1. Lynne Truss- “Eat Shoots and Leaves”- Highlighting the importance of punctuation.
2. William Sapphire: Columnist for the New York times: Etymology of phrases and an
interesting perspective on writing in the English language
3. Sasha Frez Jones- The New Yorker
4. A O Scott -The New York Time
5. Dennis Wilm-The Village Voice

 Tips!
1. Don’t read bad criticism; look at the good criticism because it raises your standards.
2. Learn an instrument! - Try and work with music. It increases understanding on what the
musical process is.
3. Relate the truth of your experience!
4. Go in with a positive attitude.

AUDIENCE INTERACTION:

Q1: As a reviewer how can I go against the trend?

A1: There is pressure for writers to impress other writers. Be brave, go forth and write what you feel.
What I would do is narrate the truth of my experience.

Q2: Crime and politics are given more importance in the field of journalism for e.g. in journalism
schools, as compared to entertainment. What is the reason behind the same?

A2:

 Unfortunately, when you get your first job, you are given a specific beat. You are told what you
have to write about it. In India, we don’t have too many music magazines. However online writing
is rapidly developing.
 Another problem is that the arts are looked at as entertainment. Print journalism across the world
is slowly diminishing. There is a move towards online journalism.
 If your course gives you a good foundation in your craft, it can be applied to every form.
 There is alot more arts-based writing now, the niche is slowly developing, you need to be aware of
the latest developments.
Q3: How do I get into journalism without having any background in the same?

A3:

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Uday Benegal:

I needed to supplement my band work in New York. I applied for a job for copy-editing at the Village
Voice.I had a copy test, which I did pretty well in. I did some freelance work. Afterwards, I wrote a
review for Maximum City. For the most part, you’ll have to pitch relentlessly! Keep doing it!

Arjun Ravi:

You have to remember some key things. For me personally as an editor, I want to see something that
you’ve written before, even if it’s not published. I want to see how you write, I don’t want to see a CV.
An editor wants to see how your style of writing fits into the style of the publication. You ALWAYS have
to have a writing sample. I do not take kindly to poetry! At NH7 (www.nh7.in) we don’t care about
your CV, we want to see how you write and how it fits into our style sheet.

Q3: Would you advise people to go abroad for experience?

A3:

Uday Benegal:

I’m not the best one to give educational advice, but more knowledge is not a bad thing! If you can
widen your experience then go for it. If you have the opportunity to go to a place like New York or
London, it would be infinitely rewarding because its more developed, with regard to journalism. You
can learn alot in NY, but in India you have an opportunity to start something from scratch.

Arjun Ravi:

There are alot of opportunities in India. Alot of TV channels, print, radio publications are now offering
opportunities. It’s a good time to be here. It’s an new, uniquely Indian scene that we are creating
now. International publications are coming to Indian markets because they see some potential here.
Being a music writer in India is alot easier than being a musician!

Uday Benegal: Western companies are struggling abroad, but are coming to India.

Q4: How can I apply to Rolling Stone for a job?
A4:

Anoop Kutty:

Send an email, make sure everything is catchy. Make sure you grab the reader’s attention and make
him read it.

ANUP KUTTY: Maxim Magazine in India/Consulting editor for Rolling Stone magazine, India

 Important to keep print media alive in India because of the diverse audience here.
 Sometimes as part of your job you might have to write about something that you’re not
passionate about.
Tips:
 Make sure you work with a good editor. This is something that no journalism school will teach
you. I’ve always worked with editors who believe in the craft of writing.
 As a writer, it’s important to market yourself. A good idea is to employ new media- Social
networking site and blogs. 2

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 Presentation of the article is important. Make sure there are good pictures, etc. Your job
doesn’t stop at writing.
 Believe in quality and not quantity
 Pick a niche. There is nothing more irritating than a heavy metal fan writing about jazz! Write
about the music that you really like listening to.
 Picking stories: Alot of bands that we looked up to while growing up were products of great
music journalists. Write about the bands and their inspirations. That’s what fans like to read
about. You are answerable to readers and not to the band.
 Try to say more in fewer words. Be snappy and short. Make it easy to consume your writing.

Future of Music Journalism

 There is a possibility that music journalism will shift to mobile phone apps etc. These are trends
you should look out for. Try to make multimedia content. You have to embrace technology.

AUDIENCE INTERACTION

Q1: Is it worth starting off on ground before launching online?

A1:

 If you have money, go offline, if not, online. You can start online, gain a fanbase and then go
offline.
Q2: If I’m asked to write a review of music that I don’t like, how do I deal with it?

A2:

 Going in with that frame of mind is not helpful. Understand that genre as much as you can.

Q3: What is your personal inspiration?

A3:
 Arjun: Representing and archiving- fantastic feeling to be paid for doing that!
 (Uday) From the context of being a musician: what keeps me going is music
 (Anup) We can experiment and try out different things.

Q4: How do you balance loyalties of readers with the band viewpoints?

A4:

 Uday: You want to communicate something interesting. My point is that there should be a reason
for it.
 Anup: Your loyalties are with the readers.

ARJUN RAVI: Editor/Indiecision – NH7
 Executive Editor at Jam, started Indiecision post 2008
 2009- Changed from a blog format and began full time at Indiecision.


Tips: 3

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 Hard to get a music writing position right away. You can get a job in the Features section. But
that’s when you can start meeting people
 VERY IMPORTANT: Music journalist should be at the ‘scene’. Go to the gigs, experience music,
and go to college festivals
 Find out about the history of Indian bands. Very important to have the historical context. The
same process applies to international bands. Most of our knowledge about international bands
is second-hand, so it’s very hard to understand the context.

AUDIENCE INTERACTION

Q1: When did the readership for NH7 go up?
A1:

 I got a call from a TV channel about featuring me as an entrepreneur. When anyone leaves
feedback, that’s a good feeling. The Weekender Music Festival was a big moment for us. When the
money started coming, that’s when the shift happened.
 Alot of lazy Indian bands who don’t follow up. Same thing with writers, you don’t see it beyond a
few months. Be regular!

Q2: Is it easy to shift from being a content writer to music journalism?

A2:

 Yes, it’s a big shift. Script writing is more theatre than trying to represent something. If you have
a good writing skill that’s already half the battle won.

Q3: When you started NH7, were there any people who said you can’t do it?

A3: When I was doing Indiecision, at the same time I was the Exective Director of JAM. Indiecision took
some time to get going. Now it’s becoming a little more profitable. I would advise you don’t drop your day
job.

Q4: Do you review every CD that comes your way?

A4: It’s a more time consuming process, that’s why I’ve hired two writers

Q5: Now you’re making money at NH7. Is it more of a business now?

A5: We are associated with Only Much Louder, that’s where the funds come from. But that doesn’t stop us
from trashing bands that they manage. The people who appreciate what we do have all given up their day
jobs because we love music.

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