Dynamic marketer, critical writer, & classically-trained musician
Abby Luo Photography
Saransh Desai-Chowdhry is a writer, marketer, artist manager and musician who calls NYC home. He is the author of Soundstorm: Musings on the Madness of the Music Ecosystem, which is now available.
Saransh graduated summa cum laude from New York University in May 2020, receiving the Interdisciplinary Academic Excellence Award and Dean’s Award for Graduating Seniors for his concentration in Cultural Entrepreneurship. Throughout college, he interned at music companies such as Sony Music and Roc Nation, managed independent artists, and studied cultural criticism and musicology. He spent an immersive semester in Paris as a French minor and was a leader on campus in business, music, and writing-oriented organizations.
Originally from Los Angeles, Saransh earned a Sangeet Visharad degree in Hindustani classical music after eleven years of training.
Today, Saransh is pursuing a Fulbright-Nehru research grant centered on emerging independent artists within India’s rapidly changing music market, based at the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad until early 2023.
In his free time, you might find Saransh curating playlists, hiking, or seeking out the spiciest food imaginable!
About Soundstorm
Music revenues are predicted to hit $131 billion by 2030 according to Goldman Sachs.
Soundstorm analyzes the business and culture of the modern music ecosystem as it straddles unprecedented growth and unforeseen challenges in the ever-evolving digital age. Through a collection of essays, 22-year-old Saransh narrates his experience as a multicultural product of modernity, exploring his individual relationship with music and the insights of artistic and commercial trailblazers, including...
Blu DeTiger, a recording artist, bass virtuoso, and TikTok star
Amanda Petrusich, Staff Writer at The New Yorker
Nick DeMasi, Data Scientist at Spotify and Manager of Juletta and Ishan
Jason Lipshutz, Senior Editor of Music at Billboard Magazine... and more!
Optimistic in the face of uncertainty, Saransh tells his coming of age story through the lens of music. Contextualizing the global music ecosystem’s most pressing problems and possibilities, he imagines musical landscapes of the future. Inspired by essayists from Water & Music’s Cherie Hu to The New Yorker’s Jia Tolentino, he bridges the gap between art and commerce with nuance. By understanding the context that surrounds music, can we develop systems that better serve artists, listeners, and business leaders alike?
Soundstorm is now available as an e-book and paperback where most books are sold! Order here.
Praise for Soundstorm
“Here is what I value about Saransh Desai-Chowdhry's way of looking at music, which is frequently his way of looking at the world: he does not settle for polemics, complaints, either/or propositions. He doesn't need them. In his writing, youth and experience aren't at odds. He's a participant in mass culture and uses journalism, criticism, and theory to help him clock the depth of his participation; he is joyously immersed in pop and can still render its mechanisms.”
— Ben Ratliff, Author of Every Song Ever, Grammy Nominee, and Former Critic at The New York Times
“Witty, edifying, and graciously personal, Desai-Chowdhry’s words provide a refreshingly engaging and honest take on how music and all that it encompasses can be both a haven and a hurricane. Soundstorm is simply a treat.”
— Gigi Martinez, Writer and Contributor to NBC New York
“Soundstorm is a skillful blend of industry analysis, cultural criticism and personal recollection. It is a great read for industry newcomers and seasoned professionals alike who seek to understand a well-informed Gen Z perspective.”
— Giulia Delle Femine, Music Publishing Professional and Founder of Clear Wallet
“Soundstorm's themes connect quite beautifully: ecosystems and growth, growth and capitalism, commerce and consumption. Desai-Chowdhry demands that we pay attention to the links between the past and present stakes of music. There is an insistence throughout these essays that we broaden our scope and stop looking at the symptoms of a "problem" in the hopes of finding an explanation.”
— Francesca Walker, Columbia University English Graduate
“Desai-Chowdhry provides a unique, insider view into the music industry, its definition of success, and its most pressing challenges. It's an important and extremely well-written read for those seriously considering getting into the music space either as artists or entrepreneurs.”
— Gabriela Naumnik, Co-Founder and CEO of LiveRoom Media
“Soundstorm beautifully illustrates the magnetic appeal of music as a force that connects people. This celebration of musical culture reminds all music-lovers why we love the art of sound.”
— Hunter Wolff, Fashion Designer and Multidisciplinary Creator
“A much-needed, thoughtful exploration into the modern music ecosystem. Desai-Chowdhry takes us through his stories and intricacies to help us reflect on how we approach music today.”
— Wooseok Ki, Author of K-POP: The Odyssey
#1 Kindle New Release in Music Business, Sports & Entertainment Industry, Ethnomusicology, Music Appreciation, & Philosophy & Social Aspects of Music
Dive into Soundstorm
Watch this video created by New Degree Press to learn more about the stories & insights that inspired the book:
Hear from Saransh
Explore Saransh’s creative and analytical perspective:
Princeton University: Lecture
In April 2021, Saransh gave a talk at Princeton University centered on "Bollywood, California" an essay from Soundstorm. The lecture spanned topics such as the rise of South Asian musical trends in the western music landscape and the nebulous boundaries between cultural appreciation and appropriation, culminating in a discussion with students and faculty.
Shoutout LA: Magazine Interview
In May 2021, Saransh was profiled by Shoutout Los Angeles, discussing his storytelling process, the influence of his hometown on his creative mindset, and his writing inspirations: “I aim to be nuanced instead of categorical…I honor the notion that subjectivity drives each of our lived experiences and how we connect with one another.”
Nucleus: “Cultural Entrepreneurship”
In May 2021, Saransh was a guest on Nucleus, a podcast led by fellow NYU Gallatin alum Jonathan Sonnenberg. The pair discussed Soundstorm, what forces artists and entrepreneurs can leverage to impact culture, and how creators and consumers can address longstanding trends of exploitation.
LiveRoom Media: Podcast Interview
In September 2020, Saransh was featured as a guest on LiveRoom’s podcast, a series of conversations with music professionals across the industry. Saransh speaks about Soundstorm, global music trends, why pop music isn't all that popular anymore, the importance of carving out music communities in the digital age, and beyond.
LinkedIn: “Numbers Don’t Lie”
In April 2020, Saransh analyzed metrics and metadata in the modern music ecosystem in an essay co-authored by Giulia Delle Femine. From content management systems to data-driven streaming analytics to changes in social media KPIs to the development of big data, metrics propel many of the industry's most prevalent trends.
Confluence: “Celebrity Syndrome”
In his April 2018 essay in NYU Gallatin’s research journal, Saransh deconstructs the dehumanization of the digital superstar: “Artists are able to give the public what they want directly, through social portfolios that fans can seamlessly absorb with just a few swipes. This digital link is so revelatory, so quotidian—the assumption of a genuine human connection is woefully inevitable.”
Sanjana
As Sanjana’s manager, Saransh has helped cultivate the rising singer-songwriter’s artistic identity and brand. Celebrated for her soulful vocals, revelatory lyricism, and ability to traverse a multitude of soundscapes, Sanjana has surpassed 1.2 million streams across DSPs since launching her debut EP in June 2020.
Get in touch!
saransh@nyu.edu
New York, New York