ADITI SARAWAGI
Music Podcasts in India
Audiences today are seeking varied, intuitive, and engaging content which can be easily consumed on the go or while
doing other tasks. Podcasts serve exactly that purpose and therefore have huge growth potential as increased smart phone
penetration, internet accessibility and listeners craving diversity has made conventional content redundant. By 2020, the global
podcast industry is projected to reach $20 billion. The US is the most advanced podcast market but podcasts are becoming
increasingly popular in India as well.
Maed in India by Mae Thomas
Considered to be India’s first music podcast,
Maed In India is hosted by Mae Thomas,
a journalist and former RJ. It is an indie
music podcast focusing on independent
artists and the indie music scene. Along
with discussions and conversations with
the artists, listeners are entertained with live music on the
podcast as well. This podcast promotes the indie music culture
and introduces you to new music from a variety of genres like
hip hop, blues, folk, and even rock. This podcast is not only
making waves in India but internationally as well.
Horns Up
This one is for heavy metal lovers. Hosted
by Mumbai based heavy metal fans-Peter
Kotikalapudi and Animesh Das, this podcast
had its origins in social media and it is a
treat for heavy metal fans. This podcast
reviews heavy metal albums and hosts
discussions on the developments in this genre. Conversations
move on Indian as well as international artists so heavy metal
is explored in its totality. The hosts
are passionate and their love for the genre resonates with
every episode.
Saregama Weekend Classic Retro Music
With everyone going digital, India’s
favourite old school recording company
has also adapted itself to the Z generation’s
wants and has come up with its very own
podcast-Saregama Weekend Classic Retro
Music. It is a digital radio show which plays
old Bollywood numbers from as far back as the 60’s. It also
talks about old stories and anecdotes on yesteryear movies,
songs, directors, singers and stars. It talks about the legendary
journeys of artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi,
R.D.Burman, Kishore Kumar and many more.
Bhangra and Beyond
A music show hosted by DJ Rekha,
Bhangra and Beyond is exactly what its
title suggests-a podcast on Bhangra and
its variations. DJ Rekha is well known as
being one of the first DJ’s to merge Bhangra
sounds with EDM and for making it more adhering to the
contemporary audience. This Punjabi folk music appeals to all
age groups and is popular worldwide. Interesting anecdotes
regarding the genre add to the show’s appeal as well.
Curry Smugglers
Curry Smugglers is a podcast which plays
upbeat Bollywood and Desi music. It
showcases the work of the best DJ’s from
around the world and plays non-stop music
handpicked and selected for a chilled-out
evening with friends and family.
Maximum India: An Exploration of
Indian Music
This podcast is on Indian instruments
and their various soundscapes. There
are discussions on the myriad sounds of
India, the roots of these sounds, how they
are influential and how they resonate
with audiences even today. Maximum India, hosted by Hari
Sreenivasan explores instruments, their various types, and
their unique sounds. It also talks about the diversity of the
instruments which vary in different states as well.
Podcasts are the newest entry to the infotainment sector and are here to stay as one of the fastest growing digital innovations
today. Music has connected the country together and these podcasts are just a part of the ever growing podcast list in India.
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