iWorld
Hoopr and Universal Music India launch artist accelerator programme
MUMBAI: India’s independent music scene just got a serious power chord. Hoopr, the country’s leading music licensing platform, has teamed up with Universal Music India to roll out an industry-first Artist Accelerator Programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of homegrown musicians. The initiative promises more than applause. It offers money, mentorship and a clear path to getting heard and paid.
Designed for emerging independent artists, the programme tackles the usual roadblocks head on. Selected musicians will receive end-to-end support across publishing, distribution, sync and micro-sync opportunities, along with brand collaborations. In short, artists get to focus on making music while the machinery around them actually works.
A central part of the programme is the creation of a fresh catalogue of original tracks. These will be released on Hoopr’s YouTube channel Songfest and published on Hoopr Smash, its music-tech platform. Songfest has already built a reputation through collaborations with artists such as Monali Thakur, Shalmali Kholgade, Nikhil D’Souza and Ash King, alongside award-winning brand music projects.
There is also a nostalgic twist. Artists will be invited to reimagine iconic Universal Music India classics, with selected recreations set to drop on UMG India’s Revibe YouTube channel. Old favourites, new voices, fresh audiences.
Universal Music Group’s global distribution and marketing muscle, paired with Hoopr’s extensive independent artist community, creates a single launchpad for visibility and monetisation. For emerging musicians, that combination could be game changing.
Participants will be chosen through curated auditions open to Hoopr’s community of thousands of artists, with selections made by Universal Music India. Those selected will receive A and R guidance, studio access, mixing and mastering, music video production and sync opportunities facilitated by Hoopr.
Open to all genres and languages, the programme arrives at a moment when independent music is topping charts and brand partnerships are booming. It is a timely reminder that the future of Indian music is being built outside the mainstream, one bold track at a time.
Universal Music Group India and South Asia chief revenue officer Viral Jani, said the partnership reflects UMG’s artist-first approach and its commitment to discovering new talent from anywhere. Hoopr co-founder and CEO Gaurav Dagaonkar, called the initiative a long overdue breakthrough that brings fairness, scale and transparency to the indie music ecosystem.
For listeners, it means more new music. For artists, it could mean the difference between being heard and being forgotten.
iWorld
Oscars 2026: Five nominated films you can stream now
From horror to historical drama, catch up on the frontrunners before 16 March ceremony.
MUMBAI: The 98th Academy Awards are revving up, and the real race is happening on your screen because why wait for the red carpet when the nominees are already red-hot on streaming? The 98th Academy Awards will air on Monday, 16 March 2026, from 4:30 am to 7:30 am IST, and several of this year’s most talked-about nominees are already available to stream. Here are five standout films shaping the conversation, perfect for catching up before Oscar night.
Sinners (Prime Video & JioHotstar) Ryan Coogler’s genre-bending return after three years blends horror, history and music in 1930s Mississippi. Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers Smoke and Stack, World War I veterans opening a juke joint for the Black community until vampires drawn to their cousin’s musical talent turn the dream into a nightmare. The film examines exploitation of Black art and culture through atmospheric direction and Jordan’s dual performance.
Sentimental Value (Prime Video & Mubi) Joachim Trier crafts an emotionally layered drama about two sisters, Nora and Agnes, reuniting with their estranged father Gustav, a once-celebrated director. After their mother’s death, Gustav tries to reconnect by casting Nora in his comeback film. When she refuses, old grief and family wounds resurface. The film explores memory, inspiration and complicated ties with quiet power.
One Battle After Another (Prime Video & JioHotstar) Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob, a former revolutionary living off-grid with his daughter while haunted by paranoia and his radical past. When old conflicts resurface, he’s pulled into a relentless chase to protect her. The film mixes tension, dark humour and sharp commentary on activism, identity and the cost of living outside the system.
F1 (Prime Video & Apple TV+) Brad Pitt leads this high-octane racing drama as a veteran Formula One driver returning after a career-ending crash. Joining a struggling team with a young rookie, he chases redemption on the world’s toughest tracks. Filmed during real race weekends with unprecedented access, the film delivers breathtaking sequences alongside a story of mentorship, rivalry and victory against the odds.
Hamnet (Prime Video) Chloé Zhao directs this historical drama inspired by Maggie O’Farrell’s novel and Shakespeare’s family life. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal play Agnes and William Shakespeare navigating grief after losing their young son Hamnet. The film imagines how personal tragedy may have shaped Hamlet, portraying love, loss and artistic creation with haunting intimacy.
These five films offer everything from pulse-racing spectacle to quiet emotional depth. With the Oscars just around the corner, the real winners might be the stories already streaming ready to turn your living room into a front-row seat to cinema’s biggest night.
