Stories, careers and news from India’s independent creative economy.
India’s music sector grew 10% in 2025, but labels’ other income rose 26%. That split explains why an artist’s career cannot be built around streams alone.
NOV 10, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
Karan Kanchan’s career shows how a beatmaker can become more than a background credit: build a signature sound, serve artists well, perform live, create a platform and strengthen a whole scene.
No family in the industry, no label contacts, no one to introduce you around. Here's what actually works when you're starting a music career in India from zero — with real examples of artists who did exactly that.
Josh Brar was a kid tagging along to his father's recording sessions, watching him dub vocals with no idea he was watching his own future. Raj Brar, a Punjabi music mainstay, died in 2016 — and eight years later, Josh's debut single was a direct tribute to him. It's since crossed 180 million Spotify streams on its own. This is how a son built a career out of continuing a conversation his father never got to finish.
Shillong-raised rapper Reble has made a career out of refusing the easy category: her work moves from alter egos and Entropy to New Riot, while keeping a clear point of view on Northeast representation and creative freedom.
Rishi Roy began by making personal songs from the edges of the room. An early ₹1,500 distribution gamble, the lasting pull of Agle Janam, and a shared musical language with Dabzee helped turn that private instinct into an independent career.
After missing out on MTV Hustle because of a citizenship rule, Yung Sammy put his energy into ‘4×4.’ The track changed his trajectory, leading to Desi Trill, Fire In The Booth, and a bigger vision for Hindi, Haryanvi, English, and Afro-inflected rap.
Curated dispatches on festival commissions, day rates, and verified credits across India.