Soundscapes of India: Gateway to the World – Season 1 marked the launch of IPRS’s flagship global music conference and showcase platform, created to build structured, long-term pathways for Indian music creators to engage with the international music ecosystem. Hosted by the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) in New Delhi, the inaugural edition brought together artists, composers, lyricists, industry leaders, policymakers, digital platforms, and international festival curators under one roof.

Designed as a gateway rather than a conventional conference, Season 1 focused on access, knowledge exchange, and global opportunity.

Panel 1: The Time Is Now – Amplifying India’s Presence on the Global Music Stage
Featuring Vivek Raina (Believe Digital), Mayur Puri (Lyricist, Director & IPRS Board Member), Bunty Bains (Bunty Bains Productions), and Marina Pommier (Sziget Festival, Hungary), moderated by Atul Churamani (Turnkey Music). Topics included India’s positioning on the global music map, authenticity in global outreach, live music ecosystems, digital distribution, and artist storytelling.

Fireside Chat: 74 Years of ICCR – Elevating Indian Music on the Global Stage
Dr. Anurag Batra (BW Businessworld) in conversation with Abhay Kumar (Deputy Director General, ICCR).
Topics covered cultural diplomacy, international exposure for Indian artists, institutional support systems, and public–private collaboration in promoting Indian music globally.

Panel: Digital Resonance – Looking Forward to the Decade
With Karan Grover (Dolby Labs), Prashant Dogra (PDL), John David Morco (Wanderland Festival, Philippines), and Surhit Bhattacharya (CIO, IPRS), moderated by Nandgopal Rajan (Indian Express Digital). Key themes included digital discovery, independent music growth, evolving listener behaviour, metadata, and royalty-linked identification systems.

Panel: Navigating IP Rights – Global Insights and India’s Evolving Landscape
Featuring Dr. Ragavender GR (DPIIT), Sneha Khanwalkar (Music Director & IPRS Board Member), Natsagdorj Tserendorj (Playtime Festival, Mongolia / MOSCAP), and Ameet Datta (Saikrishna & Associates), moderated by Rafael Pereira (Tinnuts).
Topics included copyright frameworks, global royalty systems, OTT platforms, radio and advertising royalties, and the future of rights management in India.

Beyond Borders: International Festivals and Music Markets
International festival directors including Brahim El Mazned (Visa for Music & Timitar Festival, Morocco), Jung Hun Lee (Seoul Music Week & Gwangju Busking World Cup, South Korea), Phuong Le (Wonderfruit, Thailand), Farkhfun Srisuntisuk (Monster Music Festival, Thailand), Bozena Szota (Ethno Port Festival, Poland), John Uy (Wanderland Festival, Philippines), Marina Pommier (Sziget Festival), and Natsagdorj Tserendorj (Playtime Festival, Mongolia) introduced their festivals and music markets, covering programming philosophies, artist selection processes, and global showcase opportunities.

Keynote: Convergence of Music and Tourism
Sharzede Binti Salleh, CEO, Sarawak Tourism, Malaysia.
The session focused on music-led tourism, cultural preservation, sustainability, and global festival-led destination branding through the Rainforest World Music Festival.

Showcases and Global Outcomes
Soundscapes of India Season 1 featured 16 Indian bands performing live showcases. As a direct outcome of the platform, Tal Fry, Baul Mon, and Daira were selected to perform at international festivals, including the globally renowned Rainforest World Music Festival, reinforcing Soundscapes of India’s role as a true gateway to global stages.

A Platform with Long-Term Vision
Soundscapes of India – Season 1 established a new national platform dedicated to global access, creator education, rights awareness, and international exchange. By bringing together creators, global festivals, cultural institutions, digital platforms, and rights organisations, Soundscapes of India laid the foundation for a sustained, confident global presence for Indian music.