New Frontiers in the Indian Entertainment Industry: From NFT Movies to Music EdTech and Licensing

ProducerBazaar.com

Chennai-based Producer Bazaar is a startup that aims to use NFTs and blockchain technology to solve long-standing challenges in the film world. As a movie marketplace, the platform is made for producers, creators and companies to buy and sell film rights. Among the features available to creators on the site are crowdfunding as a means to produce films and using the reach of blockchain and NFT communities to create a wider, global and national market for regional-language movies.

Roposo’s Indie Rhythm 2.0

You’re likely already familiar with Roposo given all the heavy promotions they’ve undertaken in the Indian independent space. From partnerships to artist livestreams featuring the likes of Zaeden, Anuv Jain and Raja Kumari, creators are at the center of the platform. With IPs such as Indie Rhythm 2.0 and livestreaming of Musicathon in the recent past, the platform boasts a total viewership of 2.3 million for the 15 episodes aired as part of Indie Rhythm 2.0. The livestreaming focus also extends to on-ground concerts, with Bloom In Green Festival in Karnataka reportedly garnering 3.1 million streams.

DMF and PlayDMF

Officially known as Desi Music Factory, one could argue there’s nothing too assembly line-like in the label’s approach to music. In the seven years since DMF’s channel has been putting out videos, the company founded by 27-year-old music producer Anshul Garg has notched up 35 million subscribers on YouTube.

Now, after several hits outside of the film soundtrack space, PlayDMF is launched to take the company into Bollywood soundtracks, starting with the film Selfiee. A flip from mainstream pop to Bollywood music for labels shows just how much the music industry has grown in the digital space, with songs like the remake of Anu Malik’s “Main Khiladi,” “Kudiyee Ni Teri” (by The PropheC, Tanishk Bagchi and Zahrah S Khan) and “Kudi Chamkeeli” (by Yo Yo Honey Singh) garnering multiple millions of views.

Artium Looks Beyond Ed-Tech

Artium Academy describes itself as a an online music learning and community platform, but there’s a lot more beyond education technology at play. While they grew their flexible online courses during the pandemic, the company has also launched on-ground showcase events, a practice studio for students and Artium Originals, where artists and teachers launch their own music. The next step in the process of being a musician, for Artium, is to make them influencers whose reach is high.

Hoopr’s Music Licensing Focus

Tech startup has been focusing on music licensing since July 2022, creating a library of thousands of songs, background scores and sound effects for agencies, influencers and broadcasters to choose from. Connected to its larger goal of building tools for creators and artists in India, Hoopr says it has plans to roll out “several tools that will allow creators to increase their productivity and put out more impactful content.”

At the same time, Hoopr Originals sees them make their way into releasing music as a means of platforming talent. “Cozy” by Rupinn Pahwa is among the latest, with more songs on the way.

Anara Publishing and Horus Music India’s Music Publishing Simplified

There can never be enough ways to demystify the world of music publishing to independent artists and the work is clearly ongoing. Anara Publishing and Horus Music India are launching the second season of their Music Publishing Simplified workshops and sessions starting February 28th at 7 pm, streaming from the Anara Publishing and Horus Music India Instagram handles, The twice-a-week sessions touch upon everything from signing a publishing deal to songwriting opportunities, sync for screen, music supervising and using samples.