New Delhi: The Dialogue, a public policy think tank, has released a groundbreaking peer-reviewed study titled Tuning into Change: Empirical Insights Into India’s Evolving Music Industry. Surveying 1,200 Indian artists across 21 languages, the report offers a comprehensive look at the country’s booming music creator economy, its role in cultural diplomacy, and the structural challenges that must be addressed for sustainable growth.
Key Findings:
Regulatory Concerns: One of the most pressing concerns highlighted in the study is the potential impact of proposed content evaluation standards on musicians. Nearly 72% of respondents fear that such compliance requirements could disrupt music production timelines, while 77% believe these regulations could hinder global collaborations.
The report underscores broader regulatory implications on creativity and diversity, with 82% of artists expressing concerns that pre-release scrutiny or alignment with prescribed standards would limit musical diversity and originality. This highlights the need for a balanced framework that nurtures artistic innovation while ensuring compliance.
Kazim Rizvi, Founder of The Dialogue, commented, “India is experiencing an unprecedented musical renaissance. The challenge now is to implement frameworks that protect and empower, while ensuring compliance without compromising the dynamism that defines today’s Indian music industry.”
Financial and Operational Constraints: If pre-release scrutiny were mandated for digital music, 80% of artists predict compliance costs would strain their budgets, while 75% fear operational complexities would impede creative freedom.
Strategic Industry Interventions: To sustain growth, the study outlines critical industry interventions:
- Lowering Entry Barriers: 51% of musicians stress the importance of easier access to streaming platforms.
- Infrastructure Development: 48% highlight gaps in India’s live music ecosystem, signaling opportunities for investment in performance spaces and technical enablers.
- Empowering Regional Artists: Recommendations include investments in recording studios, structured training initiatives, and government-backed grants.
- Global Expansion: Strengthening international collaborations, government-facilitated participation in music festivals, and improved infrastructure to promote music tourism are identified as key steps.
Market Growth & Future Outlook:
With 46 crore daily streams and industry revenues projected at ₹3,700 crore by 2026, India has cemented itself as the second-largest music streaming market globally, behind only the US. Digital platforms now contribute to 87% of the industry’s revenues, with millions of paid subscribers driving the surge. The Indian market constitutes 14% of total global audio and video streams.
However, challenges such as regulatory uncertainties, piracy, and infrastructure gaps threaten to slow down this momentum. Artists caution that additional regulatory layers, beyond existing IT Rules 2021, could hinder India’s global music ascent.
As India navigates this pivotal phase, a strategic balance between fostering creativity and ensuring compliance will be key to unlocking the full potential of its music industry.
To view the detailed findings of the report, please visit: https://thedialogue.co/publication/suvey-report-tuning-into-change-empirical-insights-into-indias-evolving-music-industry/
