MUMBAI: Two countries which have almost similar music preferences, but different business models for music, will be presented at the South by Southwest (SXSW) platform this year. There are sessions, as well as showcases that will be represented by experts and artistes from India and Pakistan.

The Indian music palate has always been filled with Indian Classical Music and Bollywood, which gave very little space for other forms of music to evolve. Yet Hip Hop as a music genre has emerged in the Indian music scene, which is more or less like a way to express social, political injustice and other issues prevailing in the country. In a session ‘Hip Hop's Evolution in India - Why You Should Care’ at SXSW on 18 March, panelist including CoveyPC / Armshouse Legal & Business Affairs Ali Sachedina, DesiHipHop Inc founder and CEO Hardik Dave, Greedhead Entertainment CEO Himanshu Suri, DesiHipHop Inc CMO and co-founder Raf Ullah, discussed the Hip Hop scene in India.

In a previous interview with Radioandmusic.com, Dave said, “It (Hip Hop) is an infant. However, there is going to be a dramatic change in the next five years. Right now, hip hop in India is just five lines in a mainstream Bollywood song; that is not hip hop. Real hip hop should come from places like Dharavi. It should come from a state of hope. Hip hop is supposed to give hope to people, because I feel, it is about the people, by the people, for the people. Over time, as regions nationwide start to promote and integrate hip hop in their respective music culture, we will see it grow.”

In India, there are artistes like Brodha V and Krsna, and both artistes have signed deals with label companies like Sony Music and Universal Music, respectively, and have represented different sides of rap. Then there are artistes like Yo Yo Honey Singh and Badshah, who represent the more popular rap form in India, and are bigger names in Bollywood. It shows that there is scope for Hip Hop to grow in the country, and that is what people like Dave are hoping to establish.

SXSW will have a session on 19 March that will focus on the music scene in Pakistan titled- ‘Pakistan Music Industry’. The panelists- The Agency Group agent Zaed Maqbool, musician/singer/composer and CEO Taazi.com Haroon, and musician Farhan Bogra, will discuss the industry, lack of IP Rights, lack of venues and venue management, lack of security resulting in no live concerts, weak media and government policies, lack of producers, cultural extremism and lack of community support, resulting in diminishing of musicians and hence the industry.

India and Pakistan have constantly had musicians crossing borders for music projects and to connect with their fans. For the Mekaal Hasan Band, an Indo-Pakistan outfit, cross breeding of music is part of repertoire, and the band will be showcasing that at SXSW.

There will also be artistes like Hashback Hashish and Sandunes presenting their skills at the showcase. Both are being taken to SXSW by Delhi-based artist management company- Reproduce Artists. Rana Ghose of Reproduce Artists, who managed to have an India-centric electronic showcase at SXSW said, “After Charanjit’s successful US debut, a number of people came to me, wanting to know more about what it is I do. SXSW was one such opportunity, a possibility brokered by a NY based colleague, Vivek Boray.  Vivek had friends in SXSW, and I formally proposed an India-centric showcase, and they liked the idea.” Ghose hopes that the trend continues and hopefully there will be more Indian representation at the annual, almost a two-week long event.