Stories, careers and news from India’s independent creative economy.
Aditya Modak’s path links riyaz, a day job, teaching and a film role—without treating any one of them as a shortcut to the other.
NOV 14, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
India's live-events market is projected to grow from ₹145 billion in 2025 to ₹196 billion by 2028. Here's what's actually confirmed for 2027 so far, what to expect from the annual festival circuit, and how working artists can position themselves for it.
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.
A practical, scam-aware guide for independent Indian artists: build a press kit, pitch the right editors, use Spotify for Artists properly, and turn coverage into a longer audience relationship.
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.
Curated dispatches on festival commissions, day rates, and verified credits across India.