Soundscapes of India, India’s first curated music showcase festival and global conference, successfully concluded at The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The three-day event (10-12th November) was organised by the Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) in collaboration with MusiConnect India with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The opening ceremony was graced by Padma Bhushan awardee and stalwart of the music and film industry Shri Javed Akhtar. Esteemed dignitaries such as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture Smt. Amita Prasad Sarabhai; Senior Consultant, DPIIT Dr Raghavender G.R.; lyricist and IPRS Board Member Shri Mayur Puri; and CEO, IPRS, Mr Rakesh Nigam honoured the event with their presence.
With spotlights, conversations, masterclasses, workshops, and live performances, the second edition of the music extravaganza gave musicians a platform to learn and market themselves. The bustling festival saw an overwhelming presence of over 100 artists and 24 bands and more than 15 international festival directors, curators, and industry leaders from across the globe.
From classical fusion to metal, hip-hop to jazz, and folk-fusion to pop, performances across genres echoed the depth and diversity of the Indian musical landscape. Apart from Hindi and English, songs in several regional languages, like Konkani, Ladakhi, and Tamil, among others, enthralled the audience. The fest was sprinkled with directors, booking agents and promoters from 15 countries, including Canada, Germany, Japan, Portugal and South Korea, offering Indian artists valuable international exposure.
Shri Javed Akhtar led an exclusive masterclass, ‘The Art of Songwriting’, in which he delved into the relationship between poetry, rhythm, and music, emphasising that “poetry is the music of language, and music is the poetry of sound.” In his address, Shri Akhtar reflected upon India’s rich and diverse musical heritage, describing Soundscapes of India as “a showcase of talent—an effort to bring creativity and the market together”, and described India as “a country of music”, highlighting its diverse and rich musical traditions.
Speaking at the cultural ceremony, Additional Secretary Smt. Amita Prasad Sarabhai appreciated the initiative as a wonderful collaborative initiative, calling it “a creative confluence that truly bridges art, culture, and contemporary expression.” She pointed out the role of institutions such as IGNCA for their ongoing contributions to India’s cultural preservation and artistic innovation.
Soundscapes of India - Season 2 emerged as an influential platform for cultural diplomacy, celebrating India’s artistic diversity and connecting musicians with global opportunities.
