Goongoonalo Launched as India’s First Artist-Owned Music Platform
Historic initiative unites singers, composers, and lyricists to collaborate, invest, and own their creative rights
POSTED BY:- Poonam S. Juthani
DT:-19/01/2026
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A historic chapter in India’s music industry was written with the launch of Goongoonalo, a pioneering platform created by artists for artists. For the first time in the country, leading singers, composers, and lyricists have come together not only to collaborate creatively but also to invest in and own their collective intellectual property. The initiative marks a transformative step toward empowering creators, ensuring that their rights and contributions are recognized, protected, and celebrated.
The launch event was held on January 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM at JW Marriott, Juhu, Mumbai, bringing together some of the most iconic names in Indian music and entertainment. Among the artist investors were Javed Akhtar, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Prasoon Joshi, Shreya Ghoshal, Sameer Anjaan, Shaan Mukherjee, Angaraag Mahanta (Papon), Milind Shrivastava, Anand Shrivastava, Vijay Prakash, Lalit Pandit, Akriti Kakkar, Akshay Hariharan, Anupam Roy, Anusha Mani, Joshua Singh, Mannan Shah, Mayur Puri, Nitin Shankar, Rachel Singh, Raju Singh, Darshan Rathod, Sanjeev Rathod, Shivam Mahadevan, Siddharth Mahadevan, and Souumil Shringarpure. Their collective presence underscored the significance of the moment, as stalwarts and emerging talents alike pledged their support to a platform designed to reshape the future of Indian music.
A Platform Created by Artists, for Artists
Goongoonalo represents a paradigm shift in how music is produced, distributed, and owned in India. Traditionally, artists have often ceded control of their work to production houses, labels, or intermediaries. With this initiative, creators themselves become stakeholders, ensuring that their rights are safeguarded and their contributions rewarded fairly.
The platform is envisioned as a collaborative space where singers, composers, and lyricists can come together to create original works, share ownership, and directly benefit from their creations. By investing in Goongoonalo, artists are not only shaping their own destinies but also setting a precedent for future generations of musicians.
Star-Studded Support
The launch was attended by a galaxy of confirmed guests from across the entertainment and creative industries. Notable attendees included Abhay Jodhpurkar, Abhijeet Sawant, Amrita Parekh Hariharan, Aniket Gundewar, Ashish Joshi, Gayatri Asokan, Jaaved Jaaferi, Shabana Azmi, Justin Yesudas, Udaykumar Ninjoor, Ken Ghosh, Mansi Joshi, Nawaz Singhania, Neel Goel, Padmanabhan (Paddy), Paresh Shah, Pooja Gaitonde, Priti Deshpande, Gautam Sharma, Ravi Behl, Sangeet Haldipur, Sanjay Tandon, Sanjeevani Bhelande, Sarvesh Shrivastava (SickFlip), Sharang Dev, Anupam Shobhakar, Shibani Kashyap, Bianca Gomes, Shraddha Pandit, Siddharth Haldipur, Siddhartha Roy, Somesh Mathur, Mujtaba Aziz Naza, Meenal Nigam, Teesha Nigam, Agam Kumar Nigam, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Reshma Merchant, Suneel Darshan, Suneeta Rao, Diya Singh, Vikas Bhalla, and Ravi Nallapa.
Their presence added glamour and gravitas to the occasion, reflecting the wide support Goongoonalo has garnered across the creative spectrum.
Empowering Creativity and Ownership
The core philosophy of Goongoonalo is empowerment. By enabling artists to invest in and co-own their platform, the initiative ensures that creative professionals retain control over their intellectual property. This model not only protects artists from exploitation but also fosters innovation by encouraging collaboration across genres and generations.
Lyricists, composers, and singers will now have the opportunity to jointly own copyrights, ensuring that revenues from streaming, licensing, and other avenues flow directly to the creators. This approach is expected to inspire greater transparency and fairness in the industry, setting new standards for how music is valued and monetized.
Voices of Change
Speaking at the launch, several artists emphasized the importance of Goongoonalo as a turning point for Indian music. Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar described the initiative as a “historic first,” highlighting how it empowers creators to take charge of their own work. Shankar Mahadevan and Hariharan echoed the sentiment, noting that the platform would encourage collaboration and innovation while ensuring that artists are fairly compensated.
Prasoon Joshi and Shreya Ghoshal spoke about the significance of ownership in an era where digital platforms dominate distribution. They emphasized that Goongoonalo would allow artists to retain control over their creations while reaching audiences worldwide.
Cultural and Industry Impact
The launch of Goongoonalo is expected to have far-reaching implications for the Indian music industry. By shifting the focus from intermediaries to creators, the platform challenges existing norms and introduces a new model of collective ownership. This could inspire similar initiatives across other creative fields, from film and theatre to digital content.
Culturally, Goongoonalo reinforces the idea that art belongs to its creators. It celebrates the diversity of Indian music by bringing together voices from different regions, languages, and genres, ensuring that the platform reflects the richness of the country’s artistic heritage.
Conclusion
The launch of Goongoonalo marks a watershed moment in India’s music industry. For the first time, singers, composers, and lyricists have come together to invest in their own platform, ensuring that they retain ownership of their creative rights. With stalwarts like Javed Akhtar, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Prasoon Joshi, Shreya Ghoshal, and Shaan Mukherjee leading the way, and a host of other artists lending their support, Goongoonalo stands as a symbol of empowerment, collaboration, and innovation.
As the platform begins its journey, it promises to reshape the future of Indian music, offering creators the recognition, rights, and rewards they deserve. Goongoonalo is not just a platform—it is a movement, a collective voice of India’s artists, and a historic step toward redefining the relationship between creativity and ownership.
