Nepali music should be developed as a competitive industry: Chamber president Agarwal

Kathmandu. Kamlesh Kumar Agarwal, President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said that Nepali music should be developed as a competitive creative industry. He expressed this opinion while addressing the Dasain special greetings exchange and creator honor program organized by the National Musicians Association on Sunday as the chief guest.

On that occasion, he said, "Nepali music should be developed as a competitive creative industry. For this, it is necessary to provide an opportunity to the new generation of talent to build a professional career, and an opportunity should be created to bring the talent of the rural and remote areas to the national and international stage".

Chairman Agarwal said that Nepali music is not only a means of entertainment but also an important basis of national identity, culture and originality. He mentioned that protection of creative rights of artists, fair remuneration and effective use of digital technology are necessary to establish in the international market.

Chairman Agarwal mentioned that Nepali folk music, original tunes of Himalayan and hilly regions, cultural dialects of Terai and modern Nepali songs have created a unique cultural identity of Nepal. Appreciating the contribution of leading artists who succeeded in bringing Nepali music to the digital platform and international market despite limited resources, he emphasized that the new generation should take it to greater heights.

Chairman Agarwal mentioned that artists are cultural ambassadors of the nation and said that Nepali music should be linked with cultural diplomacy, tourism promotion and international identity. He said that for the expansion of Nepali music in the world market, cooperation between the government, private sector, music sector, media and technology sector is necessary.

Mentioning that the respect of artists should not be limited to applause, awards and appreciation, he said that protection of intellectual property of artists, effective implementation of copyright, transparency in digital royalty and fair remuneration of creation should be ensured.

Stating that new opportunities and challenges have been added to the music sector with the development of digital technology, streaming platforms, social networks and artificial intelligence (AI), Chairman Agarwal expressed the opinion that technology should expand the creative capacity of artists, but should not become a means of weakening the right to create.

He said timely legal and institutional arrangements are necessary to control the trend of digital piracy, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of content. He said that it is the shared responsibility of the state and related sectors to create an environment where artists can earn a respectable income from their creations.

Agarwal also highlighted the relationship between Nepali music and tourism and said that original music can be linked with the promotion of Nepal's natural beauty, cultural diversity and tourist destinations. He was of the opinion that this would contribute to the expansion of the international market of Nepali music as well as tourism, employment and economic activities.

Stating that festivals like Dashain are an opportunity to strengthen family reunions, intimacy and cultural ties in Nepali society, he said that the songs and music echoing in villages and families during the festival will revive love for the motherland, social harmony and cultural memory.

Mentioning that the role of artists becomes more important when voices of frustration, dissatisfaction and division are heard in the society, Chairman Agarwal said that there is a need for music that conveys hope, faith and positive messages in the society. He said that artists are not only a mirror of the society but also a powerful means to move the society in a positive direction.

He said that in order to build a prosperous Nepal, along with the physical infrastructure, the protection and promotion of art, culture and national identity should also be given equal attention. He emphasized that the government and the private sector should cooperate to create an environment that can compete in the world market while maintaining the originality of Nepali music.

At the end, President Agarwal wished all Nepali artists, musicians and their families on the occasion of Badadashain, Tihar, etc.

Similarly, Nepal Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Deepak Kumar Malhotra addressed the program as a special guest and said that Nepali art, culture, music and festivals will strengthen social harmony, mutual unity and national identity.

Senior Vice President Malhotra, while expressing his views at the Dasain special greetings exchange and creator honor program organized by the National Musicians Association on Sunday, emphasized that the state should give priority to the development of art, literature and music sector.

He said that there is a need for cooperation between musicians, artists, media and the private sector in the conservation and promotion of Nepali art, culture and music. He said that all parties should take joint efforts to make Nepali original culture and talent known at the national and international level.

Malhotra mentioned that cooperation between the government and the private sector is indispensable for the overall development of the country and said that everyone should be united in the campaign of economic prosperity, social transformation and national development.

He expressed the view that the government should give proper priority to art, culture, music and creative fields and respect the contribution of artists and creators.

Artists, musicians, creators and social workers from various fields were present in the program. The creators were felicitated in the event along with exchanging festive greetings. The program was held under the chairmanship of Prakash Katwal, the central president of the National Musicians Association and the senior vice president of the association, Ramesh Dulal.