Spotify Launches First Loud & Clear Report in Delhi Highlighting Music Economy
Spotify hosted the launch of its first Loud & Clear report in Delhi, convening musicians, music industry executives, and policymakers to examine how streaming platforms are altering the domestic music economy. The event focused on the expansion of independent talent, the rise of regional-language music, and the commercial opportunities emerging outside traditional film industry gatekeepers.
Opening the event, Amarjit Singh Batra, Managing Director of Spotify India, stated that streaming has evolved fundamentally into a medium of discovery that creates commercial value through listener fandom. Batra noted that an audience shift toward paying for music is underway, citing a 2025 survey in which 96 percent of Indian users reported feeling a deep connection to their favourite artists and creators through the platform.
Highlighting the changing market dynamics, Dhruvank Vaidya, Head of Music and Podcast at Spotify India, pointed out that regional-language performers are achieving unprecedented commercial scale. Vaidya noted that half of Spotify's year-end top ten tracks in India last year originated outside film soundtracks. He cited examples such as Banjaare, two brothers from a village in Haryana who reached number one on a global chart, and Aksomaniac, a 22-year-old artist from Thiruvananthapuram who also charted globally.
Speaking as a panellist, Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, highlighted that the growth in royalties across Indian languages provides sustainable livelihoods. Chaudhary said that digital capabilities and enterprise opportunities must be strengthened so young creators can translate artistic talent into viable careers, noting that linguistic diversity is increasingly serving as an economic strength.
During a separate panel, lyricist and Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi recited lines from his song 'Maa' from the film Taare Zameen Par while addressing the democratisation of content creation. Joshi observed that audiences now have more storytellers than listeners, reflecting a major shift toward widespread creative participation.
The final panel featured independent artists Aditya Rikhari and Simran Choudhary, who discussed how direct-to-consumer streaming removed the necessity of relying on major record labels. Choudhary spoke about her experiences with independent releases and film songs such as 'Lutt Le Gaya', while Rikhari recounted discovering listeners in South Africa, after which both artists closed the event by singing together.
