Ideas Of India 2025: Musician Ricky Kej Says It’s Not The Grammy, But Prime Minister Modi’s Tweets That Gave Him Recognition In India
At the ABP Network's Ideas of India Summit 2025, Ricky Kej, a three-time Grammy Award winner, took the stage to discuss the evolving world of music.
Ideas Of India 2025: Indian artist Ricky Kej, who had won a Grammy three times, talked about the current climate of music at the ABP Network's Ideas of India Summit 2025. In a session titled 'India's Diversity - Mixing Tradition with Modernity', moderated by author Chetan Bhagat, the musician shared his insights on the changing landscape of the music industry and his own journey to success.
On the Evolution of Music: From Radio to Streaming Platforms
Ricky Kej highlighted the shift in music consumption saying, "In the older times, we would have television, we would have radio, and we would listen to music all day long. Sometimes you would listen to a piece of music or a song, and you would not like it in the first listen, and we would listen to it a few times."
He recalled how older songs featured lengthy instrumental introductions that enabled listeners to get completely engaged in the music. He said, "Sometimes, the song would have a very long instrumental introduction, and yet we would listen to it because it played on television and radio. And I always believe that the longer a song takes to get into your head, the longer it takes to get out of your head. It grows on you, and it stays with you for a long time."
However, he did note that this is really different now that streaming services are out there. He said, “With platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube, what happens is that you have about five or 10 seconds to like a song or dislike it. If you don’t like it in the first 10 seconds, you move on to the next related video.”
He added, "The longer a song takes to get into your head, the longer it takes to get out of your head. You know, because it grows on you, the song, and it stays with you, and it sticks around for a very long time."
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Support
Ricky clarified his extraordinary accomplishment by saying, “Winning an award is not the goal. In my opinion, the award is a platform to do bigger and better things. The music I create is all about the environment, positive social impact, and defining Indian culture. I've never been part of mainstream music—whether it’s in the West or in India. My music always carries a strong message.”
Notably, Ricky said that the backing he got from India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was more important than his Grammy victories when it came to his popularity in India. He said, “Before I won my first Grammy, almost all of my concerts were outside of India. No one knew me here. Even now, I’m barely known in India. But after the Grammy, the Prime Minister called me for a meeting.”
They had what he called "a beautiful one-hour conversation" during which the Prime Minister spoke highly of Ricky's music. He explained, "It wasn’t the Grammy that gave me recognition in India, but his support and endorsement. That was what allowed me to build a career here, in my own country, which has always been my dream."
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