An Artist’s Journey: Struggles, Rights & Revival | Sanjay Tandon | TEDxSPIPS Indore
What truly defines an artist—and what does the world owe them? In this thought-provoking talk, Dr. Sanjay Tandon, singer and pioneer in music rights advocacy, takes us on a powerful journey into the emotional and professional life of artists. With poetic insight and real-world wisdom, he outlines the five stages of an artist's life—from inborn talent to the pursuit of guidance, struggle for recognition, and the challenge of survival in a commercial world. Drawing from his own musical journey and leadership in transforming India’s copyright ecosystem, he highlights the need for not just admiration but real, actionable respect for artists through support, rights, and policy reform. This talk is a moving call to value the creators who bring meaning, melody, and magic into our lives—not just in spirit, but in law and livelihood. Dr. Sanjay Tandon is a celebrated singer and a pioneering force in India’s music copyright movement. As Founder and Managing Director of ISAMRA (Indian Singers’ and Musicians’ Rights Association), he has championed performers’ rights, equitable royalty systems, and transparent governance. A leading voice in global IP advocacy, he has represented India at WIPO and CISAC platforms and is driving the One-Window Music Licensing Regime under the guidance of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Awarded an Honorary Doctorate for Cultural Preservation and Music Rights, Dr. Tandon continues to blend his passion for music—performing in the voice of Mukesh—with his mission to protect and empower artists. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 1:13How to preserve your vision #shorts #tedx#shorts #tedx #ted #health #vision #eyes
- 12:04Don't Explain Your Autism | Harrison Blake-Goszyk | TEDxOhioStateUniversityHarrison Blake-Goszyk spent his entire life searching for an explanation as to why others found him strange. After being diagnosed with autism and learning about the stark inequalities those in the community face, Harrison sought ways to mend the gap of belonging between autistic people and their peers. Drawing from professional and lived experience, he illustrates practical methods for carving a place in the world for people like himself while discussing the power of not explaining yourself and existing as you are. I am an Astrophysics PhD candidate at Vanderbilt studying black holes and gravity as well as doing mission prep for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), which will be launched in the 2030s. I also work for the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt on many projects relating to incorporating autistic people into the workforce. In my spare time, I enjoy writing science fiction, cooking, longsword fighting, and reading. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 14:08The power of multi-stream solutions to complex problems | Abby Andre | TEDxOhioStateUniversityProfessor Abigail André's passion for helping people inspired her to pursue a career in environmental law and environmental justice. In 2010, she joined the Department of Justice, and achieved success in high-profile cases. Despite her success, André continued to encounter situations where the law fell short in addressing the needs of the people it was designed to protect. After nearly a decade of litigating on the federal level, André returned to school to study this disconnection. Through her study of the impact of disasters on marginalized people, André explains how there is no singular solution, no “silver bullet” to achieve disaster justice, rather, action and coordination at multiple levels is needed. I am an artist, a mom, a lawyer, and a social scientist in training. I am interested in how connections between diverse disciplines, processes, and ways of thinking can be fostered to tackle complex problems. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:50Taco Land Troubles: When the Mexican Menu Mocks You | Paloma Martinez-Cruz | TEDxOhioStateUniversityTens of thousands of Mexican-style restaurants dot the American landscape with common imagery, menu items, alcoholic drinks, and atmosphere. Have you ever stopped to think about the harm that cartoonish stereotypes about Mexican culture can cause when these are massified and perpetuated by restaurants geared toward non-heritage consumers? Dr. Paloma Martinez-Cruz delves into this issue while also uncovering the anti-Mexican sentiments that non-heritage-owned Mexican restaurants perpetuate. Paloma Martinez-Cruz is an interdisciplinary, decolonial scholar in the field of Latinx cultural studies at The Ohio State University. Her work interrogates the consequences of colonization and patriarchal orderings across expressive cultures of the Americas. She is the author of the poetry chapbook Other Bombs (2023); Trust the Circle: The Resistance and Resilience of Rubén Castilla Herrera (2024 Latino Book Award winner), Food Fight! Millennial Mestizaje Meets the Culinary Marketplace; Women and Knowledge in Mesoamerica: From East L.A. to Anahuac; and the editor of A Handbook for the Rebel Artist in a Post-Democratic Society by Guillermo Gómez-Peña and Saúl García-López. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:06How your morals shape your favorite stories | Matthew Grizzard | TEDxOhioStateUniversityHey did you catch the latest episode of…? TV and media have been known to generate a sense of community around those who follow the same series or sagas, however, recent research has shown that media may hold a greater influence on our personal schemas. Dr. Matthew Grizzard is exploring how our judgment of story characters mirrors the way we assess real-life moral situations. He suggests that we apply similar moral frameworks when evaluating fictional characters’ actions and that by analyzing characters’ choices and motivations, we reveal the underlying moral assumptions that guide our broader ethical decision-making. Matthew Grizzard (PhD, Michigan State University) is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication at The Ohio State University. Situated within media psychology and communication, his research program examines moral judgments processes as they relate to evaluations of narrative characters and narrative plots. Current projects explore how viewers come to like or dislike story characters, why viewers prefer some types of narrative endings over others, and what types of media content elicit moral emotions such as anger and guilt. Dr. Grizzard is a member of the editorial boards for Human Communication Research, Media Psychology, and Psychology of Popular Media, and he is an associate editor of Journal of Media Psychology. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:28Save the Bees and Ourselves | Jamie Strange | TEDxOhioStateUniversityLong before the “Save the Bees” movement, Dr. Jamie Strange has been an advocate for the bees. Throughout his career, Dr. Strange has been working to understand how aspects of bee health impact their conservation. His research focuses on the things that make each species of bee sick, the parasites that attack them, and environmental changes that affect them. Little did he know that his life would be changed in ways he never imagined, and the bees he worked so hard to save would be a saving force in his life. I’m a Professor in the Department of Entomology. I have an active research lab where I mentor four graduate students and two post-docs. I teach a course in pollinator conservation and a study abroad on the history of evolutionary thought. I came to OSU in 2019 after working for USDA-ARS Bee Lab in Logan, UT for 13 years as a research entomologist. Originally from Pennsylvania, I went to Penn State for undergrad before attending graduate school and studying honey bee health and genetics at Washington State University. My current research focuses on bumble bees, their biology, parasites, and population genetics. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
