Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] : In a landmark shift for India’s music industry, over 30 of the country’s most respected musicians gathered at Jio World Studio Theatre to launch Goongoonalo, a revolutionary artist-owned digital platform designed to put power back in the hands of creators.
Conceived by lyricist Javed Akhtar, composer Shankar Mahadevan, and tech innovator Sridhar Ranganathan, and helmed by CEO Sherley Singh, Goongoonalo aims to eliminate creative gatekeeping by allowing musicians to publish, monetize, and connect with their audiences independently — without industry-imposed filters.
The event featured prominent names like Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, Sameer Anjaan, Prasoon Joshi, and Shaan, all echoing the same message: Goongoonalo is not just a platform — it’s a rebellion against a music ecosystem that has long sidelined artistic autonomy in favor of commercial formulas.
Shankar Mahadevan described the initiative as a dream-turned-reality: “Artists aren’t businessmen, but for the first time, we’ve built a model where we don’t have to be exploited to be heard.” Lyricist and CBFC Chairperson Prasoon Joshi pointedly added, “The industry has always given us canvases, but not the sky. This is the sky.”
Singer Shaan shared a deeply personal note, revealing that his father’s unreleased compositions would finally see the light of day, thanks to Goongoonalo. “No other platform would value them the way this one does,” he said.
With features like original music uploads, workshops, archival content, behind-the-scenes access, and a unique Fanverse system — allowing fans to co-create, crowdfund, and design merchandise — Goongoonalo offers a complete reimagination of how music and poetry reach audiences.
Javed Akhtar, who has fought for creators’ rights for decades, called the launch a turning point: “For once, we — the artists — decide what the world hears. Not producers, not labels.”
Goongoonalo isn’t a trend; it’s a wake-up call for an industry too comfortable with controlling the narrative. Artists and fans alike can register at www.goongoonalo.com to join what may very well be the future of independent Indian music.