Wish licensing, entertainment taxes get little easier: Shankar M

Singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan, who is participating in FM station Radio City's Gig City with his team members Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa, wishes that "licensing and entertainment taxes get a little easier" in the country.

Four-time winner of the National Award, Mahadevan has composed music for films like "Rockford", "Dil Chahta Hai", "Kal Ho Naa Ho", "Rock On!!" and "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara".

Mahadevan believes that the music industry has evolved a lot -- be it the music, the production or the songwriting part of it.

"It is an ever-growing industry and has evolved a lot -- be it the music the production or the songwriting. It has been recognised internationally and that is a good thing," the "Breathless" singer told IANS.

"We have loads of live gigs in the country, there are lot more festivals than earlier, though we wish that licensing and entertainment taxes get a little easier in order to promote live music," he added.

Gig City is a radio concert which has brought together renowned artistes like Shaan, Farhan Akhtar, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Salim-Sulaiman, Ayushmann Khurrana and Sunidhi Chauhan on one platform.

The concert began on June 17, while the performances by the artistes are spread over a span of 12 weeks.