Shankar Mahadevan, Javed Akhtar Launch ‘Goongoonalo’—India’s First Artist-Owned Music Platform to Empower Creators

May 6, 2025: In a landmark moment for India’s music community, a group of the country’s most celebrated musicians gathered at the Jio World Studio Theatre in Mumbai to launch Goongoonalo—India’s first artist-owned digital music platform. This revolutionary initiative promises to give artists complete creative and financial control over their work, challenging the traditional dominance of mainstream music labels.

The brainchild of legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar, renowned composer Shankar Mahadevan, and tech visionary Sridhar Ranganathan, Goongoonalo is led by CEO Sherley Singh and is poised to become a game-changer for Indian music creators.

At the launch, more than 30 musical stalwarts, including Sonu Nigam, Sameer Anjaan, Prasoon Joshi, Hariharan, Raju Singh, and Shaan, stood in support of a platform designed by and for artists. Goongoonalo provides a space for musicians to release original content, archival gems, unreleased masterpieces, and interactive sessions—while maintaining full ownership and transparency in revenue.

Shankar Mahadevan called the project deeply personal: “Every artist has a dream, and Goongoonalo is where we chase it. For the first time, we have a platform that brings art and business together—on our own terms.”

Prasoon Joshi, lyricist and CBFC Chief, noted the lack of creative freedom in commercial projects, stating, “Artists often have a canvas, but never the sky. Goongoonalo lets their hearts speak freely.”

Composer Raju Singh remarked on the liberating shift: “This is a space to realise our own visions—not just those of others.”

Singer Shaan shared a heartfelt moment, revealing, “There are compositions by my father that I’ve held close for 40 years. This is the only platform where I feel they belong.”

The launch wasn’t just a press event—it was a celebration of creative freedom. CEO Sherley Singh described the atmosphere as electric: “It felt more like family than business. That spirit is the soul of Goongoonalo.”

With tools for artists to directly publish music, poetry, and stories, the platform also features exclusive content like demos, jam sessions, and lyric-writing workshops. The Fanverse feature allows fans to design merchandise, crowdfund albums, and even co-create content with their favorite artists.

Javed Akhtar, who has long fought for artists’ rights, hailed Goongoonalo as a historic step: “For once, it is the artist who decides what reaches the audience.”