Kohima: Nagaland’s music industry is evolving from church-based performance to a diverse field including producers, engineers, and educators. While schools and social media expand opportunities, turning music into a reliable career remains difficult. Many artists still struggle to find a stable income.
Churches remain the bedrock for early training in sight-reading and leadership. However, they provide few paid, long-term jobs. An associate pastor at Kumlong Baptist Church in Mokokchung noted, “There are also members who are working as freelance musicians,” though live performance options remain limited.
Formal education is expanding to fill the professional gap. Nagaland University lists five colleges offering bachelor-level music programs: Nagaland College of Fine Arts, Nagaland Conservatory of Music, Tetso College, Platinum College, and Patkai Christian College. Faculty at Tetso College, N Shelao Konyak, emphasized the need for more recording labels and funding to bridge the gap between academics and industry. Louise Shishak, of the Margaret Shishak School of Music, warned that primary music education requires more resources and teacher training to be truly effective.
Private music schools and studios operate in a tough environment. Proprietors must juggle business management with creative production. Audio engineer Wangching Konyak of Audio Craft Studio in Dimapur criticized the lack of centralized industry support. “The state does not have a father, but has lots of godfathers,” he said. Producers like Toshi Changkiri often rely on multiple streams like DJing and mastering to survive.
Live events remain sporadic and expensive to produce. Arenlong Longkumer of Soundscape Enterprise noted that ticket sales rarely cover the rising costs of production and artist fees. Despite these hurdles, social media helps independent artists connect with new audiences. Musicians now must navigate a sector that demands both talent and self-funded infrastructure.
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