Loudest.in introduces ‘Loudest 40 Under 40’ initiative for young music professionals

Loudest.in has announced the launch of the inaugural edition of Loudest 40 Under 40, a new industry initiative aimed at recognising the young professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators and executives driving the growth of India's rapidly expanding music business. The initiative is being presented in association with exchange4media and IWMBuzz.

As India's music ecosystem continues to witness significant growth across streaming, live entertainment, publishing, artist management, licensing, technology, marketing and the creator economy, the platform seeks to celebrate individuals under the age of 40 who are making a meaningful contribution to the future of the industry.

The inaugural edition will be evaluated by an esteemed jury comprising some of the most respected leaders from the worlds of music, media, branding and intellectual property.

The jury will be chaired by Devraj Sanyal, Chairman & CEO, India and South Asia, and SVP Strategy, Africa, Middle East and South Asia at Universal Music Group, and Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld.

The confirmed jury panel includes:

Blaise Fernandes, President & CEO, IFPI India
Mandar Thakur, CEO, Times Music
Sujal Parekh, Chief Business Officer, Zee Music Company
Rakesh Nigam, CEO, Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS)
Rajeev Raja, Founder, BrandMusiq
Shamir Tandon, Music Director
Meghna Markhand Dave, Associate Director – Artist Strategy & Development, Sony Music India
Shibani Kashyap, Singer-Composer
Hamza Kazi, Head – Artist Relations & Development, The Hello Group India
Lloyd Mathias, Former Marketing Head, PepsiCo, Motorola and HP
Ruhail Amin, Senior Editor, exchange4media and BW Businessworld
Additional jury members are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The initiative has been conceived to spotlight both front-facing and behind-the-scenes talent powering India's music economy. From executives, founders and strategists to creators, marketers and ecosystem builders, Loudest 40 Under 40 aims to recognise individuals helping shape a more sustainable, innovative and globally competitive music industry.

The jury process will be conducted virtually, with deliberations scheduled to take place in June. Following the evaluation process, 40 exceptional young leaders will be selected for their contributions and impact across various segments of the music business.

With its debut edition, Loudest 40 Under 40 aims to establish itself as a credible industry benchmark for recognising leadership, innovation, creativity and business excellence, while celebrating the next generation of professionals shaping one of India's fastest-growing creative sectors.