Brands
83 per cent of Indians crave AI-powered, emotionally driven music experiences
Mumbai: JBL announced the findings of its annual World Music Day survey conducted on the occasion of Make Music Day, celebrated each year on June 21st. The third edition of this survey was conducted with 1,269 respondents from Gen Z and millennials in India. The survey underscores the growing appetite for AI-powered music exploration and personalised experiences within this tech-savvy demographic.
An overwhelming 85 per cent of respondents believe that music transcends cultural boundaries and unites people globally. This desire for global connection is further fueled by the high interest (83 per cent) in AI-powered music exploration. Respondents are eager to leverage AI to discover music from different cultures and languages.
More than half (52 per cent) of the respondents attribute music’s allure to its ability to evoke strong emotions and its ability to take one back to another place or time. This emotional connection underscores the rising demand for AI tools that facilitate cross-cultural discovery and personalized listening experiences.
The survey highlights a notable leap in the adoption of AI-enabled audio devices, with 54 per cent of users embracing this technology. This trend underscores the growing popularity of AI in enhancing music consumption experiences. Nearly half (43 per cent) respondents appreciate features like intelligent playlist curation and automatic audio optimization. When asked which feature would most improve their experience with diverse music, respondents were clear.
Personalised recommendations based on preferences were the top choice (33 per cent), followed closely by cross-language song identification (30 per cent). These findings highlight the user desire for AI assistants that understand their tastes and can navigate the world of multilingual music.
While users are enthusiastic about AI-enabled audio devices, they also identify key areas for improvement. Almost 30 per cent of respondents seek better voice recognition accuracy, and 20 per cent desire more engaging and interactive experiences. These insights highlight opportunities for brands to refine AI’s audio skills, aiming to deliver unparalleled performance and user satisfaction. Additionally, almost 30 per cent of users have crowned AI-powered Bluetooth speakers as their favourite device for amplifying their listening experiences.
“On this World Music Day, we celebrate the universal language of music and reaffirm our dedication to developing innovative audio solutions that not only deliver exceptional sound quality but also contribute to the rich tapestry of musical diversity. We are committed to leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies to enhance the listening experience, making it more personalized, immersive, and culturally inclusive. JBL will continue to push the boundaries of audio technology, ensuring that our devices serve as a bridge that connects people through the power of music, regardless of their cultural background or language”. said HARMAN India vice president, lifestyle Vikram Kher.
JBL’s AI-driven audio devices are at the forefront of this technological evolution. By integrating advanced AI capabilities into their audio products, JBL offers users an unparalleled listening experience. JBL’s commitment to innovation ensures that their products not only provide exceptional sound quality but also foster a deeper connection between listeners and diverse musical cultures. This approach positions JBL as a leader in the audio technology space, continuously advancing the way people experience music through AI.
This year’s survey highlights a growing trend towards multilingual music experiences in India. Beyond the widely spoken Hindi and English, Punjabi (41 per cent) emerges as the most popular music language followed by Tamil (22 per cent), highlighting the linguistic diversity of India’s music scene; followed by K-pop (14 per cent). This showcases the potential for AI to help users navigate and celebrate global music diversity.
Survey Methodology-
JBL conducted a nationwide online survey of 1,269 individuals aged 18 and above across India.
Brands
Lululemon picks former Nike executive to be its next chief
Heidi O’Neill, who helped grow Nike into a $45 billion giant, will take the top job in September
CANADA: Lululemon has found its next chief executive, and she comes with serious credentials. The athleisure giant named Heidi O’Neill as its new CEO on Wednesday, ending a search that has left the company running on interim leadership since earlier this year. O’Neill will take charge on September 8, 2026, based out of Vancouver, and will join the board on the same day.
O’Neill brings more than three decades of experience across performance apparel, footwear and sport. The bulk of that time was spent at Nike, where she was a central figure in one of corporate sport’s great growth stories, helping take the company from a $9 billion business to a $45 billion global powerhouse. She oversaw product pipelines, brand strategy and consumer connections, and played a significant role in shaping how Nike spoke to athletes around the world. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing for the Dockers brand at Levi Strauss. She also brings boardroom experience from Spotify Technology, Hyatt Hotels and Lithia and Driveway.
The board was unequivocal in its enthusiasm. “We selected Heidi because of the breadth of her experience, her demonstrated success delivering breakthrough ideas and initiatives at scale, and her ability to be a knowledgeable change and growth agent,” said Marti Morfitt, executive chair of Lululemon’s board.
O’Neill, for her part, was bullish. “Lululemon is an iconic brand with something rare: genuine guest love, a product ethos rooted in innovation, and a global platform still in the early stages of its potential,” she said. “My job will be to accelerate product breakthroughs, deepen the brand’s cultural relevance, and unlock growth in markets around the world.”
Until she arrives, Meghan Frank and André Maestrini will continue as interim co-CEOs, before returning to their previous senior leadership roles once O’Neill steps in.
Lululemon is betting that a Nike veteran who helped build one of the world’s most powerful sports brands can do something similar for an athleisure label that has genuine love from its customers but is still chasing its full global potential. O’Neill has done it before at scale. The question now is whether she can do it again.
