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JBL & Martin Garrix Music Academy is back
Mumbai: It’s official. The JBL & Martin Garrix Music Academy is back and accepting applications from musical artists around the world from today. Following its successful launch in 2023, the Music Academy continues its mission to empower emerging artists by welcoming the class of 2024 to join its exclusive three-day program at Amsterdam-based STMPD studios in November.
Becoming an artist starts with talent. But knowledge, inspiration, connections, and support are just as key to succeeding in the music world. This is where the Music Academy comes in, offering 30 up-and-coming musicians, songwriters, singers, and producers the opportunity to learn from industry experts and connect with other artists.
In-depth workshops from leading figures in the music industry, including Martin Garrix himself, will focus on music creation, branding, and business. The Music Academy provides artists with valuable insights into various aspects of the music industry to prepare them for success.
JBL also supported many Class of 2023 alumni with opportunities to showcase their music and represent JBL at events and festivals like the Montreux Jazz Festival, the JBL Snow Party, and many more.
“I’m super excited we’re doing a second edition of the Music Academy with JBL this year. Meeting all the talented artists last year and seeing their creativity and passion through the experience was inspiring,” said JBL Global brand ambassador, Martin Garrix. “With STMPD RCRDS we’re already focusing a lot on upcoming talent, so the Music Academy feels like the perfect addition.”
“At JBL, music is at the core of everything we do,” said JBL vice president of marketing for lifestyle division EMEA and India Robert Jan van Dormael. “When we launched the Music Academy last year the goal was to provide a platform to empower talent with the knowledge they need to turn their passion for music into a career. We are excited to build on that success this year.”
Artists can apply by submitting a motivational video and up to three music tracks that best represent their sound. Applications for the JBL & Martin Garrix Music Academy are now open globally until 30 April 2024.
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PNB partners Kiwi to launch credit-enabled UPI for users
Targets 180 million customers; RuPay card offers 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent cashback
MUMBAI: Swipe, tap, or scan credit is quietly slipping into the rhythm of everyday payments, and Punjab National Bank wants in on the action. The state-run lender has partnered with Kiwi to roll out credit-enabled UPI payments for its 180 million customers, marking a significant push to blend traditional banking with India’s fast-evolving digital payments ecosystem.
At the centre of the collaboration is the launch of the PNB Kiwi Credit Card on the RuPay network. The card is designed with a digital-first approach, offering fully online onboarding and seamless integration with UPI, allowing users to transact via scan-and-pay while accessing credit.
The offering also brings in a rewards layer, with cashback ranging from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent on online transactions, positioning the product as both a convenience play and a spending incentive.
The move comes as UPI continues to dominate India’s digital payments landscape, increasingly blurring the lines between debit-led transactions and credit access. For PNB, which operates over 10,000 branches around 60 per cent in semi-urban and rural areas, the partnership signals a targeted effort to extend formal credit to segments that have traditionally remained underserved.
The collaboration also reflects a broader industry shift, where banks and fintech platforms are converging to embed credit directly into payment flows, reducing friction while expanding access.
With RuPay credit cards gaining traction and UPI evolving beyond peer-to-peer transfers, the PNB–Kiwi tie-up positions both players at the intersection of scale, accessibility, and the next phase of digital finance in India.
