Title: “The Baul’s Melody: A Journey to Copyright”
Characters:
- Mr. Nas
- Sohan
- Ahmed
- Babu
- Abbasuddin (mentioned, but not seen)
Scene 1: A Chance Meeting
(The stage is set in an open-space tea shop in Bangladesh. Mr. Nas and Babu are having a conversation while enjoying tea.)
Narrator: (Explaining) It’s a warm day in Bangladesh, July 2019: Mr. Nas, the collector of folk songs.
Babu: (Passionate) Nasir vai, I’ve always believed that the Baul genre deserves more recognition, especially in academic circles. Our traditional Baul songs are unique and rich in both philosophy and melody.
Mr. Nas: (Curious) You’re right, Babu. The world needs to hear the soulful essence of Baul’s music. But how can we ensure that Baul songs are preserved and recognized on a broader scale?
Scene 2: The Introduction
(As they talk, Ahmed joins them.)
Ahmed: (Excited) Hey, I just saw the campus bus arriving from Dhaka. I’d like you to meet someone, a big brother of mine who’s a Baul singer and songwriter. That’s Sohan Vai!
Mr. Nas is engrossed in a conversation with Babu, a talented theater person.
Sohan: (Greeting) Vai kemon achen? (How are you?). Babu has told me about you.
Narrator: (Explaining) Sohan is known for his distinctive style, often seen wearing long-sleeved shirts and colored eyeglasses.
Scene 3: The Quest for Copyright
Ahmed: (Enthusiastic) Nasir Vai, Sohan here, has been exploring the world of music labels, royalties, and copyright. He’s eager to learn how to make a living through music production.
Sohan: Songs are copyrighted as soon as they are created, but for commercial purposes, proper copyright is essential.
Mr. Nas: (Reflective) That’s right, Sohan. In today’s world, it’s not just about creating great music; it’s also about ensuring that artists are fairly compensated for their work.
Sohan: (Determined) I’ve taken it upon myself to promote Baul songs, but it’s not easy. I teach guitar classes to make ends meet, and the support from home is limited.
Scene 4: The Power of Copyright
Mr. Nas: (Educational) You know, Sohan, it’s crucial to understand the importance of recording songs with acoustic instruments.
Ahmed: (Curious) What does copyright mean exactly?
Mr. Nas: (Explaining) Copyright ensures that artists have legal ownership of their work and can receive royalties for a lifetime plus 70 years.
Scene 5: An Unfinished Legacy
Narrator: (Recounting) Long ago, when the internet was unavailable, legendary singer Abbas Uddin tried to preserve Bangla folk songs. However, he faced limitations due to storage constraints.
Sohan: (Inspired) We must find a way to archive Baul songs and make them accessible to future generations.
Scene 6: A Plan Takes Shape
Mr. Nas: (Determined) Sohan, I will help you publish your songs. Let’s work together to finish your album and ensure it’s copyrighted.
Sohan: (Appreciative) Thank you, Nasir Vai. I’m eager to preserve Baul’s acoustic appeal by blending traditional and modern instruments.
Narrator: (Describing) They spend years working on their music, determined to get it copyrighted and published through mOHiKonTok Label.
Scene 7: The Changing World
Narrator: (Reflecting) As the world changes, they adapt. The COVID-19 pandemic sweeps through the community, and they face new challenges.
Ahmed: (Worried) Schools are closed, and we’re all isolated. People are wearing masks and waiting for the vaccine.
Sohan: (Resilient) Even in isolation, we continue creating and sharing our music. We find new ways to connect with our listeners.
Scene 8: A New Genre
Narrator: (Announcing) mOHiKonTok advocates for the Baul songs to be recognized as Baul genre, bringing forth the teachings of unheard Bauls who preach humanity first, then religion. They work to make it a recognized genre through their label.
Sohan: (Excited) We’re not just creating music; we’re preserving a rich heritage.
Mr. Nas: (Determined) We aim to ensure that artists get the recognition and support they deserve.
Scene 9: The Finale
Narrator: (Concluding) Sohan and Mr. Nas collaborate, bridge geographical gaps, and work to preserve Baul’s songs while embracing digital advancements.
Sohan: (Passionate) Let’s share the beauty of Baul’s music with the world.
All: (Together) Together, we create, preserve, and celebrate the power of music.
The curtain falls as the audience applauds the incredible journey of preserving Baul’s music and the importance of copyright.
Sohan: “Nasir Vai, I need help to finish my album. While I have two pieces published by G-series, the streaming income is barely enough to make a living, especially with the uncertain show schedule due to the pandemic. Singing for media feels like I’m singing from a cage, and the digital media scene in our country isn’t ideal. I lack storage for my songs. But you mentioned a way. You’ll support my daily expenses, and I’ll sing and record Baul songs for mOHiKonTok. We’ll aim to get our work copyrighted.”
Narrator: (Describing) Their goal is to preserve the essence of Baul songs without compromising their acoustic charm. Sohan mixes Bangla folk instruments, and Mr. Nas explores avenues for publishing their work.
Narrator: (Reflecting) As they embark on this journey, the world changes rapidly. The pandemic isolates people, causing a surge in online streaming. Mr. Nas focuses on learning about music production while searching for opportunities to publish their work. He soon discovers mOHiKonTok, a label introducing Baul music as a new genre.
Narrator: (Describing) Sohan, a self-trained audio engineer and vocal artist, believes that working with mOHiKonTok is more cost-effective than other labels. They set up a recording studio in Bangladesh, bridging the geographical gap with digital technology.
Narrator: (Reflecting) One day, they ride through the beautiful Jahangirnagar campus in a battery-powered van, symbolizing the changing world and their passion for their craft.
Narrator: (Concluding) They aim to achieve what Abbasuddin could not, finding a way to archive Baul songs and make them accessible to the public while addressing copyright concerns.
Mr. Nas: “mOHiKonTok is every artist’s dream, allowing us to own and copyright our work, making it available without restrictions. Copyright doesn’t limit views, and DRM-free music ensures the best quality for our audience.”
Deep in the heart of the mystical forest, where ancient trees whispered secrets to the wind, two ethereal beings, Mohi and Kontok, embarked on a mission that would change the course of their existence. Their quest was to bring forth the teachings of the unheard Bauls, a group of wandering mystics and minstrels whose profound wisdom remained hidden from the world.
The Bauls possessed an unparalleled understanding of love, spirituality, and the human soul. Their songs and verses were said to hold the key to unlocking the deepest chambers of the heart. But there was a problem – the world had forgotten to listen. The Bauls’ voices had been lost in the din of modern life, and their teachings had faded into obscurity.
The journey of Mohi and Kontok led them through the woods of the mind, a labyrinthine realm where thoughts, emotions, and memories intertwined. As they ventured deeper into the recesses of consciousness, they encountered lovers who had lost their memories of the past, the very memories that held the key to understanding the teachings of the Bauls.
Each lover they met had a fragment of a forgotten melody, a verse of a lost poem, or a shard of ancient wisdom buried within their subconscious. The challenge was to help these lovers remember, to rekindle the flame of their past, and to reignite the passion that had been long extinguished.
As they traversed this inner landscape, Mohi and Kontok unearthed the hidden treasures of the human heart. They encountered forgotten dreams, lost connections, and the profound power of love that transcended time. With each revelation, the lovers they discovered became vessels of the unheard Bauls’ teachings, and the world began to listen once more.
The quest for love, fueled by the teachings of the Bauls, was not merely a physical journey but a spiritual awakening. It was a reminder that in the labyrinth of the mind, where memories faded, and love seemed lost, the power to rekindle the flames of the heart lay dormant, waiting to be awakened.
And so, Mohi and Kontok continued their quest, carrying the wisdom of the unheard Bauls, breathing life into forgotten memories, and rekindling the love that had long been buried in the woods of the mind. As they ventured further into this uncharted territory, they knew that the world’s heart was beginning to beat to the rhythm of the Bauls’ teachings once more, a melody that had been waiting to be heard for centuries.
Mr. Nas: “Not all Baul lyricists have genuinely honored the convergence of literature and life. Baul songs, on the other hand, serve as a bridge to unlearn destructive biases and foster respect for diverse perspectives.
Mr. Nas: “And speaking of copyright, it’s your key to claiming streaming revenue for your songs or podcasts through mOHiKonTok. Your content isn’t just on YouTube; it’s also making its way through various social media platforms you might not even be aware of. To use your audio content commercially, you’ll require those vital copyright numbers, ISRC and UPC. Owning uncopyrighted content can create complex legal challenges, particularly when it comes to sharing royalties.”
Babu: “So, if I have high-quality finished audio content like a podcast, could I submit it to Apple iTunes for copyright?”
Mr. Nas: “To get your work copyrighted and ready for platforms like Apple iTunes, you’ll need to go through a music publication company, a government agency, or an attorney. Apple iTunes may be an online music store, but having copyright in place is essential.”