India International Music Week 2025 Opens Applications for Artists

After announcing well in advance at the start of 2024, Indian International Music Week (IIMW) has finalized its dates and is inviting artists to apply to perform at their conference and showcase festival in Goa, taking place between Feb. 4 and 6.

Set up by seasoned Indian music industry professionals Sushil Chhugani and India Music Exchange’s Rafael Pereira, IIMW is gaining momentum on the back of the founders traveling around the world to spread the word about a new music conference in the country. “We’re trying our best to fill in their curiosities and questions,” Chhugani says. It is “committed to a pioneering spirit of encouraging and facilitating international trade to shape how the world interacts with the Indian music industry,” a previous press release stated.

The music festival side of it, called IIMW Live, will take place across multiple venues in Goa as well as in different cities in India. Live and electronic acts alike are expected to perform. IIMW promises over 40 performances across six venues in Goa, while the pan-India activities around the festival will bring in 15 venues, aiming to create a touring circuit of sorts as an extension of the property. Pereira says, “We’re doing this not just for the city [of Goa] but for the country. It’s just about being that glue and having that organization and communication to present a united front to the world.”

Artists – both Indian and international – can apply to perform at IIMW via their website form. Selected artists will receive pro passes with entry to the conference, showcases, and associated networking events. IIMW also intends to provide “individual support with planning/recommending the most relevant cities/venues for tours in India” to the artists.  

Chhugani urges Indian artists to take the example of international counterparts and “go out” as emerging talent to perform at showcase festivals like theirs. “One thing we want to get the word out about from Indian artists and the ecosystem – artists can apply to play at IIMW. Just fill a form to perform at a festival, we want to start that culture,” Pereira says.

The conference side of the event – IIMW Pro – is slated to bring together over 600 music industry professionals from around the world, plus host more than 20 panel discussions as well as roundtables, keynotes and B2B meetings. They are planning similar partnerships in South India and East India to line up more than a week of interactions between Indian and international professionals. Between Feb. 1 and Feb. 9, 2025, IIMW hopes to create a “packed calendar for Indian and international delegates,” the organizers say. In addition to the conference and festival side of things, songwriting camps are also expected to be set up at IIMW.

Get more details about IIMW here.