Impressions of the season

sangeetarasikan · Post by **sangeetarasikan** » 06 Jan 2007, 00:17

Never got a chance to sit and post concert reviews/reports during my entire stay in Chennai what with trying to spend time with family and friends whenever I wasn't in a concert! I do not want to bore you all with individual opinions on concerts but here are some thoughts...

1. I will start with the oft-repeated complaint that the number of concerts on any given day is WAY TOO MUCH! With the best plan of action, it was still hard to arrive at a balance between one's old favorites, new arrivals and the top stars.

2. Many artistes, whether popular stars or the new arrivals over-commit themselves to such an extent that they sound tired half-way into the season. Certainly not a great idea if they want a lifelong career in music.

3. Seemed like that there was way too much hype for certain artistes while certain other deserving artistes were left languishing. While I agree that this is largely a matter of individual opinion, I feel that senior musicians and the media can actually make a difference in the right direction. Even forums like this, which incidentally is definitely doing a much better job of covering the season than newspapers like Hindu and Express, can do something about this.

4. Coverage by the 'official media' was bordering between the useless and the dismal. I suppose that the sheer size of the season makes it impossible for any one paper to provide comprehensive coverage, but then even the few so-called reviews were neither helpful nor accurate in most cases. The feature articles which are primarily designed to evoke fresh interest were hardly worth reading, leave alone thought-provoking. I was surprised that even renowned critics like Gowri Ramnarayan and SVK came up with very poor-quality stuff. Indian Express' coverage was even more shallow. I don't know if any of the Tamil newspapers or magazines covered the season.

5. Another oft-repeated complaint. This one is about the ancient halls and the very poor acoustics in most places. When are we Indians ever going to value the need for good presentation? Is anyone in Madras serious about putting Carnatic music on the world map, this would be the first step. I wonder whether even artistes enjoy performing in halls like NGS Mini Hall or MFAC.

6. NRI musicians are getting more opportunities than ever before. As long as there are enough quality checks, it can be a good trend.

There is lots of food for thought. If we can all put our heads together and came up with a viable solution, we can perhaps give a petition to the President of the Federation of Sabhas (I just heard that there is such a thing).

sunayanaa · Post by **sunayanaa** » 22 Jan 2007, 10:56

sangeetarasikan wrote:6. NRI musicians are getting more opportunities than ever before. As long as there are enough quality checks, it can be a good trend.

Some sabhas think NRI performers are cows to be milked. Especially Hamsadwani.

Hamsadwani's secretary demands Rs 10,000 from every NRI performer. And it seems he says, hat is nothing for you people ! And also his definition of NRI is not in line with what income tax dept defines !

As per him, anyone who visits from abroad (even if he is a student, who has taken a loan to study abroad) is a NRI and he/she has to pay that amount. Even if he / she had gone abroad
for a 6 months assignment

With sabhas like Hamsadhwani, music has become a commodity.

snigdha · Post by **snigdha** » 22 Jan 2007, 15:05

Sunayanaa
This is the same story with many sabhas in Chennai. I totally understand that sabhas need donations in order to conduct these events smoothly. However, artistes(Indians or NRIs) are not to be targeted. They should instead get some big companies to sponsor these events where upcoming and seasoned artistes can get an opportunity. But alas, who will put across this message to the sabha secretaries?

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 22 Jan 2007, 20:15

In a reputed sabha, the secretary got a sum of 2000 from my friend and after the concert he paid 3/4th to the accompaniments and also paid the remaining amount to my friend and said you sang good also.....

Ashwin · Post by **Ashwin** » 22 Jan 2007, 22:03

It is an unscrupulous practice, but I think its worse that there are NRI musicians desperate enough to pay for their slots...

Ashwin

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 22 Jan 2007, 22:13

Supposedly MFAC has one of the best sound systems... I didn't like the acoustics at all, being in the audience, but apparently for the artists the sound is very good. Most artists will strive to give their best there, even moreso than the Music Academy.

sunayanaa · Post by **sunayanaa** » 24 Jan 2007, 17:46

snigdha wrote:Sunayanaa
This is the same story with many sabhas in Chennai. I totally understand that sabhas need donations in order to conduct these events smoothly. However, artistes(Indians or NRIs) are not to be targeted. They should instead get some big companies to sponsor these events where upcoming and seasoned artistes can get an opportunity. But alas, who will put across this message to the sabha secretaries?

Unlike those days, nowadays sabhas get very good sponsorship from Banks and other corporates. Still the sabha secretaries are not satisfied. It is more than funding the expenses of hosting the concerts. They want to fillup their pockets. I know that a secretary of a sabha in Habibullah road sells concerts slots openly. He will call that money that he demands as "donation" but never gives any receipt for that. It is a donation to him, not to the sabha. More the money you give, more slots.

There are also straight forward sabha secrataries. Like those at Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha and many others.

sunayanaa · Post by **sunayanaa** » 24 Jan 2007, 17:57

Ashwin wrote:It is an unscrupulous practice, but I think its worse that there are NRI musicians desperate enough to pay for their slots...

Ashwin

True. However, I know of a NRI mrudangist who was offered 2 slots in Hamsadwani. Without knowing the "terms" of Hamsadwani, the mrudangist accepted the offer.

At the end of 1st concert, instead of giving him the remuneration, he was asked to fillup a form with details of cheque for Rs 10,000 !

Shocked by this , the mrudangist refused to pay. And he was told that if he did not pay, he won't get the second slot. And the mrudangist told, "well I am not dying to play at your sabha" and walked out.

This happened in Dec 2006

Ashwin · Post by **Ashwin** » 24 Jan 2007, 18:38

sunayanaa wrote:True. However, I know of a NRI mrudangist who was offered 2 slots in Hamsadwani. Without knowing the "terms" of Hamsadwani, the mrudangist accepted the offer.

At the end of 1st concert, instead of giving him the remuneration, he was asked to fillup a form with details of cheque for Rs 10,000 !

Shocked by this , the mrudangist refused to pay. And he was told that if he did not pay, he won't get the second slot. And the mrudangist told, "well I am not dying to play at your sabha" and walked out.

This happened in Dec 2006

I think he did the right thing - this is the only way to put an end to such practices. Has anyone else experienced similar situations? It would be nice to bring these to light in this forum.

Ashwin

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 25 Jan 2007, 05:28

It takes two hands to clap. So long as there are NRIs prepared to pay sabhas so that they get to perform there, there will be sabhas who will demand such money. This is no different from NRIs (or other rich people) paying big money to get admission into medical/engg colleges. I hear they even have NRI quotas at IITs/IIMs these days. I haven't heard about people complaining about this practice.

I'm sure some of these NRI musicians use these 'performances' to do up their CVs ('have performed at Madras music season') and get concert offers in their countries of domicile.

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 25 Jan 2007, 16:47

Still what sabhas like Hamsadhwani are doing is deplorable. Its heartening to hear musicians are standing up to them.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 25 Jan 2007, 17:18

- this is the only way to put an end to such practices.

Not the only way.
For Instance they can pay up , sign the papers, start the concert with a Varna and then
(Similar to what happens in the Vadivel -Policewoman eve teasing classic in the tamil Movie )
in a flash

stand up (all the three of them on stage) and sing Ey Lelo Elelo.
And distribute written pamphlets to anyone who complains in the audience.

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 26 Jan 2007, 11:34

Hi sunayanaa,

You are so right about NRI's being milked. We endured this three years ago (but thanks to some kind souls my brother still got his slot in the Academy). My youngest brother plays the mridangam fairly well and his guru here suggested approaching some sabhas in chennai. Now we are not rich people in Singapore. In fact I would think I am in the lower middle class, and certainly am not well heeled, and I spend a good percentage of my salary just on music fees. We had heard of Hamsadhwani and so my father approached them to see if they can use a good mridangist.

Well, to cut a long story short, my younger brother who is a black belt taekwondo instructor in the Singapore Armed Forces had to be physically restrained by my youngest brother and others from beating the crap out of the person who liaised with us, so rude he was. I don't know his name or what exactly happened, and my dad refuses to even speak of the incident. All I found out was, it was insults sufficient to drive my brother to anger, and he is the most mild mannered person I know in the world (Exactly opposite of my nature). My dad is close to 60 now and the last thing he needs is some yob insulting his ancestry.

Thanks to the good offices of people like Sri Ramabhadran (his manasika guru) and other musicians who encouraged him (like Neyveli and others) my brother didn't give up and did perform at the Music Academy in 2005, thus fulfilling his childhood dream. We were not, thankfully asked to pay any donations or any such things and the sabha organisers were for the most part, very professional. So I guess the story did have a happy ending, but recalling the incident still brings tears to my eyes because it is really a symptom of what is wrong with the music scene today. We were not asking for any big fees or anything. In fact we were busting the bank trying to fund airtickets to Chennai (this was before budget airlines lowered fares). We just wanted my youngest brother to perform, and it is very disgusting to see the level of contempt Indians hold their own countrymen in, in their own country! Apparently they think every Indian living abroad is a millionaire, and if you're not you're not even worthy of a second glance. Rs. 10,000 is about $400, which at one low point of my life was more than what I earned in a month and $300 more than all my savings! Hardly a sum we could give away just like that. We never scrimped when it came to music and were more than willing to spend money from what we could afford on things that added value. But to expect us to fork out Rs. 10,000 just for being NRIs?

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 26 Jan 2007, 12:13

as if a local starter is treated kindly either! it is humiliation, insult and arrogance for any local starter too. the NRIs can atleast quench the egos by flaunting their hard earned dollar notes.

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 26 Jan 2007, 12:21

Chalanata, I agree about the local starters as well and certainly didn't mean to say that only NRIs have it bad. I was just citing an experience we went through. But I don't know what you mean "NRI's can atleast quench the egos by flaunting their hard earned dollar notes"..

I am an example of an NRI who is not exactly in a position to flaunt much money and it is not true that all NRI's are rolling in the doubloons, nor is it true that all NRIs are big egomaniacs.

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 26 Jan 2007, 12:33

bala747,
this is a clear case of communication gap! please read my post carefully. did i mean the egos of NRIs? if it sounds like that i'm terribly sorry; i never meant it that way!

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 26 Jan 2007, 12:35

Hi, sorry I misread you

sunayanaa · Post by **sunayanaa** » 31 Jan 2007, 03:53

ragam-talam wrote:Still what sabhas like Hamsadhwani are doing is deplorable. Its heartening to hear musicians are standing up to them.

And the NRI mrudangist has told "if you you want me to play without remuneration, I am OK with that. I can do that for the sake of music and to gain experience. But don't ask me to pay Rs 10,000 or for that matter any amount to give me the stage."

The old secretary (dont know his name) has bluntly and rudely said "this is what all NRI's who perform here pay. And it is all well known and published in the media. We don't tell this to every artist individually while offering a slot. If you are not aware of these terms before you agreed, then it is not our problem. Either pay that amount or you can't get the next program". And the NRI told him "no way" and decided to skip the 2nd concert.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 31 Jan 2007, 05:15

My two cents worth.....

On the issue of Hamsadwani charging NRI's certain amount of "fees" for performing, perhaps it is not out of place to enquire as to what Hamsadwani management is doing with the sums so collected. If this organisation is a non-profit charitiable body, under the tax rules, no pecuniary benefit may accure to any members or the management in what ever form. If any benefit is being provided, then the tax department ought to have a hard look into the financials of this institution. On the other hand, if the money is spent on probagating carnatic music or any other art, then, that will be a different story. But the fact cannot be denied that you need the money to run a set up like this. If there are no sponsors, then, the participants have to shell out some money in order to cover the operating costs. Yes, ticket sales will to go some extent relieving this situtation.

May be after reading these submissions, the manageemnt of Hamsadwani will come forward and explain their position?

Sam

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 31 Jan 2007, 06:10

Sam Swaminathan wrote:May be after reading these submissions, the manageemnt of Hamsadwani will come forward and explain their position?

We can dream....

sunayanaa · Post by **sunayanaa** » 31 Jan 2007, 16:05

Sam Swaminathan wrote:My two cents worth.....

If there are no sponsors, then, the participants have to shell out some money in order to cover the operating costs.
Sam

Hamsadwani gets very good sponsorship from corporates. During 2006, ICICI, ABN Amro and another 3 or 4 corporates sponsored. So, money is not an issue for Hamsadwani. It is just greed.

sindhu · Post by **sindhu** » 31 Jan 2007, 17:03

I have heard Mr.S.V.Krishnan (Ragasudha Hall boss) asking Rs.5000/- per slot from artists. And if Rs.10000/- the artist will get one 6pm onwards slot.

All sabhas are alike.

-sb-

sbala · Post by **sbala** » 31 Jan 2007, 22:20

Oops! I thought SVK was genuine. I remember him telling that a old man was funding all these concerts during one of his pre-tukkada speeches. Anyway, are there any good organisers? I'm sure there are a few who aren't corrupt, who can act as role models.

avidfan · Post by **avidfan** » 01 Feb 2007, 15:48

It is to be noted that throughout the season many genuine artistes who performed more than a dozen concerts were completely ignored!!! Not one single comment (either good or bad), or review. To cite is a classical example of Sriram Gangadharan who has shown tremendous courage, perseverance, confidence, enthusiasm, coupled with enough manodharma throughout the season. Barring a couple of concerts, every concert was of a different kind in terms of krithis that were presented, reflecting on the man's hardwork. I listened to his concerts at Naradha Gana Sabha, @ Kapali Fine Arts, @ Madras Music Academy to name a few... Each of these were completely different in terms of compositions that he chose, ragas that were rendered... For e.g., if it was Natta Kurinji in MA, it was Karahapriya in KFA.

I fail to understand why artistes of such a calibre are not reviewed properly or not even considered for a better slot. Time and again, one could see the reviews of TMK, Sanjay Subramaniam or the latest influential hit Visaka Hari. If this could be the view of such prestigious sabhas or newspapers, I am afraid the entire carnatic community may not know much of such personalities who are not being reviewed.

I believe The Hindu has taken T.M.Krishna and Sanjay Subramaniam for LEASE. Of late, I do not recollect any artistes of yesteryears who had done any documentary!!!! . The Arar Asaipadar film is an unwanted hype. Voices Within was shown on NDTV!!!! Kudos to media. Why should the media cover up all artistes, rather than covering up T.M.KRishna or Sanjay as far as male singers are concerned and Bombay Jayshree, Visaka Hari (Too much of hype for a harikatha) for female singers ?

Let there be concerts/reviews only for those cited in male as: T.M.Krishna, Sanjay Subramaniam, T.N.S. Krishna and Bombay Jayshree, Gayathri Venkataraghavan, and others in females.

This shows even now sections of the Media including Hindu are biassed. I think it is better to cover up artistes who have a humble background without any influence which media vehemently ignores!!!!! and instead it is the vice versa...................

LONG LIVE BRAND T.M.KRISHNA, SANJAY SUBRAMANIAM, BOMBAY JAYASHREE THEIR HIGHNESS/HER HIGHNESS OF CARNATIC MUSIC!!!! HATS OFF TO THE HINDU FOR THEIR WONDERFUL COVERAGE IGNORING ALL OTHERS!!!!

bhaktha · Post by **bhaktha** » 01 Feb 2007, 23:41

@avidfan

I am not sure if u have listened to Smt Vishakha Hari. If you really have, you definitely wouldn't have included her name in your list. Her music is truly divine and she definitely does not perform for publicity. People who have attended her harikathas will vouch for that.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 01 Feb 2007, 23:47

avidfan you are coming across as another avatAr of the needidevadai. Most reviewers go to concerts of artists who have made it a point to make a success of their concerts time in and time out. But forums like this exist to post reviews of other artists. I would have respected your point of view better if you had posted reviews of Sriram Gangadharan's concert and others in danger of being ignored. Without that, it just reads as a rant...

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 02 Feb 2007, 01:39

I agree with rshankar-sir. I deeply respect and admire the music of Sri. Sriram Gangadharan, and it is unfortunate that he did not get enough media coverage this season.

However, avidfan's writing just sounds like a rant with sweeping statements and liberal exclamation marks.

I think it is better to cover up artistes who have a humble background without any influence which media vehemently ignores!!!!! and instead it is the vice versa...................

And please, the term is not "cover up".... That means something entirely different.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 02 Feb 2007, 03:27

mahavishnu wrote:rshankar-sir.

Mahavishnu,
Ravi or Shankar will suffice!

Thanks.

rbsiyer · Post by **rbsiyer** » 02 Feb 2007, 19:33

sunayanaa wrote:
ragam-talam wrote:Still what sabhas like Hamsadhwani are doing is deplorable. Its heartening to hear musicians are standing up to them.
And the NRI mrudangist has told "if you you want me to play without remuneration, I am OK with that. I can do that for the sake of music and to gain experience. But don't ask me to pay Rs 10,000 or for that matter any amount to give me the stage."

The old secretary (dont know his name) has bluntly and rudely said "this is what all NRI's who perform here pay. And it is all well known and published in the media. We don't tell this to every artist individually while offering a slot. If you are not aware of these terms before you agreed, then it is not our problem. Either pay that amount or you can't get the next program". And the NRI told him "no way" and decided to skip the 2nd concert.

I have heard that funding earmarked by a donor for Sanjay's last concert at Hamsadhwani did not find its way to the artist, which allegedly is the reason for his subsequent boycott of the sabha. At least the NRI-milking is something they do openly.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 03 Feb 2007, 11:14

uhhh....RBS Iyer - Sanjay IS scheduled to perform at Hamsadhwani next Sunday - I do hope he does not boycott because I have the evening all planned out!

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 06 Feb 2007, 09:41

I have heard a lot about Sriram Gangadharan but unfortunately when it comes to concerts here in Singapore it's the same old people who get trotted out to perform. Not that there is anything wrong with it if they can give great concerts, but that's another story!

I think avidfan is typing that out because he really is concerned about the fact that the same old artistes get reviewed in the Hindu while others get ignored, but his point could have been made with a few less exclamation marks and capital letters!

hindolam · Post by **hindolam** » 06 Feb 2007, 12:19

Bala 747 some good news for you is that I believe the new emerging star Gayathri Venkatraghavan is giving her first ever performance in Singapore for SIFAS on 11th February 2007.

shwesand · Post by **shwesand** » 06 Feb 2007, 13:24

We had M Balamuralikrishna (Jr) performing last Saturday 03Feb at the SIFAS Auditorium as well on the first day of the Festival of Indian Music and Dance 2007

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 06 Feb 2007, 21:53

I have heard that funding earmarked by a donor for Sanjay's last concert at Hamsadhwani did not find its way to the artist, which allegedly is the reason for his subsequent boycott of the sabha.

Sanjay's rift with Hamsadhwani has been discussed in other fora. Sanjay was mad that a North Indian artist was paid a large sum (Rs. 100,000 has been bandied around) whereas Carnatic musicians get paltry sums. He wrote an open letter about it.

The fact is that there was a sponsor who was willing to pay Rs. 100,000 for the Hindusthani musician. When Carnatic musicians have the guts to refuse all concerts unless they get equal pay (and find sponsors who are willing to pay those rates), they could write open letters about discrimination. If a North Indian rasika is willing to part with Rs. 100,000 but no South Indian rasika/organization is willing to, there can be no fruitful discussion on the matter.

sangeetarasikan · Post by **sangeetarasikan** » 10 Feb 2007, 18:15

The point is that whether Sabha secretaries charge under the table or above it, the need for quality remains the same. It looks like Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana is falling under the same trap. I heard that their inaugural concert is expected to bring them something like $50000. And guess who the payers are? Not the audience but the performers! If this isn't a corruption of the system, then what is?

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 10 Feb 2007, 20:29

I wouldn't exactly compare Cleveland with the sabhas like Hamsadwani. Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana is conducted on a much larger scale, and so they would definetely need a lot more money, much more than corporate sponsorships could cover. So, they need avenues of making little extra money here and there, and registration charges are just one method of doing so.
My gripe with Hamsadwani is that it is not fair to NRI's, like bala747 said.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 10 Feb 2007, 20:57

If the artists feel any of it is excessive, they should be the ones complaining, or objecting. If there is no benefit to them, I do not see any artist spending an extra penny on anything. Unlike the artists of yore, the current generation of artists have realised that the practice and performance of music is a wonderful blend of art, science and business (AND MORE POWER TO THEM! They are no longer naive, otherworldly puppets who could end up spending the last days of their lives in abject penury.). I am certain that they look at this as investment for future/potential gain for themselves, otherwise it would not be happening. And anyway, who defines the system? It may be a 'corruption' based on what may be becoming an antiquated idea of what the system should be. In this forum, learned members have educated us on how the very essence of the music system (the rAga) changes and evolves over time - so why on earth should the 'system' be unchanged?

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 10 Feb 2007, 21:41

rshankar wrote:If the artists feel any of it is excessive, they should be the ones complaining, or objecting. If there is no benefit to them, I do not see any artist spending an extra penny on anything.

ravi - doesnt this assume that both sides are on equal footing and have equal leverage? I am not sure that is the case here or at least i am not sure if artists feel that way. I sometimes wonder if we as rasikas forgot or not wholely sympathetic to the fact that music is the artist's livelihood and hence as important to them as our careers are to us. One can say artists are doing better now than those days and they should be happy - i dont think that argument would be given same weight by all of us when shifted around and applied to our own careers.

Music is enjoyment/pastime/hobby to rasikas. It is a bit more to people running the sabha - but i dont think their livelihoods are affected by "loosing out" here so to speak. Musicians stand to loose a hell of a lot more by taking a stand. Not everyone can be daring enough there - just like not many of us are daring to take a stance in real life when it comes to money and our livelihoods.

My 2 cents.

Arun

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 11 Feb 2007, 01:37

My views on this specific topic I have already expressed in my posting #10 in this thread.

What I feel is that whiile this complaint has some merit, a bigger injustice is what happens to meritorious artistes in small town in India who don't see the light of the day. They don't have any sponsors/godfathers to push them nor do they have money to bribe their way to concert platforms - the NRIs are at least a bit better equipped on this front.

I remember listening to a brilliant violinist (he must have been 17-18) some years ago in a small temple in Trivandrum. I can distinctly remember the sabha organizers shooing him off at the end of the concert with some pittance of a payment. Now that to me is real injustice.

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 11 Feb 2007, 12:44

To answer sangeetha rasikan's questions : Aval vikatan, kumutham and anantha vikatan also reviewed kutcheries all along the season. (Kumudham : I felt is biased against TMK). Kalki did review some concerts but I guess they donot have enough page to cover the concerts . But I felt Hindu had a very very very good coverage of many concerts and very good first page articles, letters , gossips, artist's first season concert and many more items. They had many music season editions but actually this year is less than last year. I apprecitae hindu for their special treatment to CM.

People in this forum have to realise that season concert review is for a small number of people and also 90% of those belong to one community. It is better we take CM beyond one community within TN. I found , In Kerala , CM knowledge awareness is very widespread in various communities.

TMK, Sanjay, Bombay Jayasree, : Hi , let some people be chosen to project and propagate interests of carnatic music at the national and international level. Let them be these three. True that there are also other people like vijay siva, soumya etc. But not everybody can be chosen to do an iconing of CM.

This forum is doing a GREAT job to cover several artists. But sometime we also overdo reviews on some artists due to overenthusiam (Ex TNS ). but he is the kalanidhi this time and is fine. I feel we cover less of instrumental solo.

In 1960s-80s it was only MSS being projected as an icon of carnatic music at national and international level and I heard many seniors were not happy with this treatment to MSS. But all of us agree that MSS did her job perfectly and more than required. It was careful planning by her husband sadashivam, politicians who had interests in her music, kalki magazine and what not ? Has anybody done concert on the sidelines of UN session after MSS?

After 80s, I think only sri balamurali krishna is known at the national level. I will be happy if any of our artists can take CM to greater heights like what MSS did and what ARRehamn did as a music director to film music and background score which his predessors could not do.

sangeetarasikan · Post by **sangeetarasikan** » 12 Feb 2007, 22:07

arunk wrote:
rshankar wrote:If the artists feel any of it is excessive, they should be the ones complaining, or objecting. If there is no benefit to them, I do not see any artist spending an extra penny on anything.
ravi - doesnt this assume that both sides are on equal footing and have equal leverage? I am not sure that is the case here or at least i am not sure if artists feel that way. I sometimes wonder if we as rasikas forgot or not wholely sympathetic to the fact that music is the artist's livelihood and hence as important to them as our careers are to us. One can say artists are doing better now than those days and they should be happy - i dont think that argument would be given same weight by all of us when shifted around and applied to our own careers.

Music is enjoyment/pastime/hobby to rasikas. It is a bit more to people running the sabha - but i dont think their livelihoods are affected by "loosing out" here so to speak. Musicians stand to loose a hell of a lot more by taking a stand. Not everyone can be daring enough there - just like not many of us are daring to take a stance in real life when it comes to money and our livelihoods.

My 2 cents.

Arun

Arun, you have expressed lucidly what I neglected to elaborate. Thanx man.