Billboard India goes live, expands global music brand’s presence in India

MUMBAI: Striking the right chord from day one, Billboard India has officially launched, marking the arrival of one of the world’s most recognisable music brands in one of its fastest-growing and most diverse music markets.

Launched in partnership with Other Side Ventures, Billboard India aims to become a definitive destination for music journalism, charts, artist rankings, awards and industry insights, while reflecting the richness of India’s multilingual music ecosystem. The platform arrives at a time when Indian music is enjoying unprecedented global visibility, fuelled by the rise of streaming, independent artists and cross-border collaborations.

From chart-topping film soundtracks to emerging independent voices, Billboard India plans to cover artists across languages including Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and several others, reflecting the breadth of India’s music landscape rather than focusing on a single market or genre.

The platform launches with legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja as its debut cover star, a choice that underlines its ambition to celebrate musical excellence across generations. The acclaimed composer, who marks 50 years in music this year, has created more than 1,500 film soundtracks and remains one of India’s most influential musical figures.

Other Side Ventures media advisor Priyanka Khimani said, “India is already one of the world’s largest music markets by volume. Our growth story isn’t from one city or one language. It’s from every corner of this country.”

Highlighting the significance of the inaugural cover, Khimani added, “There couldn’t have been a more superlative name to launch our first cover than Ilaiyaraaja. His legacy, body of work and music superiority speaks for themself.”

The launch also reflects Billboard’s growing focus on international markets as music consumption becomes increasingly global. Billboard chief executive officer Mike Van said, “Billboard India marks an exciting step in that mission, as the Indian music industry and its global diaspora continue to command growing attention and influence worldwide.”

Leading the India operation is a newly appointed management team comprising chief operating officer Preeti Nayyar and content strategy director Mohini Chaudhuri. They are joined by creative director Amruta Ramesh and charts lead Vidya Sivalenka, who will help shape the publication’s editorial, creative and data-led offerings.

Headquartered in Mumbai, Billboard India is now live across digital platforms and is positioning itself as a bridge between India’s vibrant music scene and the global stage.

As India’s music industry continues to evolve beyond language and geography, Billboard India is betting that the next global music story may not come from one chart or one city, but from the many voices that make up the country’s soundtrack.