Javed Akhtar, Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahadevan And More Launch Goongoonalo: India’s First Artist-Owned Cultural App

Last Updated:May 12, 2025, 17:53 IST

India’s top music legends unite to launch Goongoonalo, a groundbreaking artist-owned cultural platform empowering creators with full creative freedom.

The list of founding members reads like a who’s who of Indian music: Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh, Vishal Dadlani, Amit Trivedi, Sameer Anjaan, Salim-Sulaiman, Hariharan, and many more.

In a landmark moment for India’s cultural and musical landscape, over 25 of the country’s most celebrated artists have come together to launch Goongoonalo — India’s first artist-owned cultural app. The grand launch event was held at the Studio Theatre, Jio World, BKC, Mumbai, and saw the convergence of musical greats such as Javed Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam, Prasoon Joshi, and more.

The idea behind Goongoonalo is revolutionary: a digital platform created by artists, for artists — one that celebrates music, poetry, storytelling, and creative freedom. The app promises exclusive original content, unreleased classics, mentorship sessions, masterclasses, jam sessions, open mics, and direct fan interactions.

Javed Akhtar set the tone for the evening, calling it a historic day for Indian music. “May 5, 2025, is a historic day. Goongoonalo gives artists the freedom to create without the constraints of producers or music companies. It’s the first of its kind globally, where musicians, lyricists, and singers are shareholders,” he said. “Artists will have complete creative freedom, and no committee will oversee their work. Members will also introduce new talents, giving exposure to emerging singers, lyricists, and composers.”

Adding to this sentiment, Shankar Mahadevan emphasized the app’s groundbreaking ethos: “Goongoonalo is a platform created by artists for artists. It’s a stage to write the next chapter of music. Today is a significant and historic day for all artists. Through this platform, the dreams of many artists will come true.”

The list of founding members reads like a who’s who of Indian music: Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh, Vishal Dadlani, Amit Trivedi, Sameer Anjaan, Salim-Sulaiman, Hariharan, and many more.

Sonu Nigam reflected on his journey in music and how Goongoonalo aligns with his long-held aspirations: “When I came to Mumbai in the 90s, we wanted to do something different. Now, Goongoonalo is the platform that offers the creative freedom we were looking for.”

Sameer Anjaan echoed these thoughts: “This is the best day for people in the music field. After years of dreams and efforts, this app has been launched. Whether it’s folk singers or classical artists, this platform is unparalleled. Creators are given complete freedom to do what they want.”

Prasoon Joshi touched on a deeper truth about artistic expression: “People think that if an artist has a mic and a stage, they don’t need anything else. But writers and musicians often express someone else’s thoughts. This platform allows them to share their own voice. Goongoonalo provides the freedom to think and create without any constraints.”

The app was the brainchild of technology expert Sridhar Ranganathan, who spent four years developing the platform. “We’ve been working on this app for the past four years. Bringing all artists together was challenging, but after years of effort, this platform is ready. Artists and fans can register at www.goongoonalo.com to become part of this creative family.”

Sherley Singh, CEO of Goongoonalo, highlighted the shift in artist autonomy: “If you’re a dreamer, Goongoonalo is where you should be. This platform changes the equation. Typically, when an artist releases a song, the rights belong to the makers or music label. Here, the artist owns their song, and any revenue generated is shared with them.”

Classical maestro Hariharan celebrated the democratic ownership model: “This platform is different because artists themselves own the company. I hope some excellent music will be produced, which listeners can enjoy on Goongoonalo.”

Composer duo Salim-Sulaiman expressed optimism about creative liberation. Salim Merchant said, “This is a significant opportunity for art and music. We’ve become accustomed to composing based on others’ stories, but this app allows us to express what we feel and think. Our community will inspire many people.”

Sulaiman added, “This is a historic initiative that will empower artists. It’s the first streaming platform of its kind.”

Veteran music director Raju Singh remarked, “This platform will fulfill our incomplete dreams that we couldn’t realize due to market pressures. We can present our ideas with freedom here.”

Lalit Pandit, another industry stalwart, said, “We’ve been waiting for this day for years, and now this historic app is here.”

Composer duo Anand-Milind added, “Goongoonalo will bring forth creations close to our hearts. It’s an essential and excellent platform for songwriters, composers, and singers.”

Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam spoke on the platform’s collaborative possibilities: “I’m thrilled to be a shareholder in Goongoonalo. As a classical singer, I’ve always wanted to collaborate with non-classical artists, and this platform offers that opportunity.”

For singer Papon, the platform’s uniqueness lies in its ownership model: “There’s no other app in the world that offers artists such freedom and partnership. All artists will work together, and songs will be released on Goongoonalo’s platform.”

Pop icon Shaan shared, “This is truly historic. It started with good intentions, and anything done from the heart yields good results. We’ll strive to present our best songs on Goongoonalo.”

Guitarist and composer Ehsaan Noorani added, “This platform allows us to create something new and different on our terms. It’s a unique platform owned by artists, offering numerous collaboration opportunities.”

Playback singer Shweta Mohan shared her excitement: “This app will preserve the soul of independent songs and bring them to the audience.”

Singer-songwriter Anusha Mani was drawn to the passion of the founding team: “The team behind this platform is so inspiring that I immediately became a part of it. It’s a medium for our creative expression.”

Composer Manan Shah noted, “Being part of Goongoonalo with music legends is an honor. Creating songs with complete creative freedom here will be a unique experience.”

Lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya hoped it would transform the creative ecosystem: “I hope this platform proves to be a game-changer for music-related artists. Through this platform, we can work on ideas we’ve longed to realize.”

Siddharth Mahadevan summed it up: “We artists will release our songs on our own company, Goongoonalo. Its USP is that every artist will promote each other’s songs, reaching a vast audience.”

The platform is set to roll out an exciting lineup of content. Under ‘Goongoonalo Originals,’ a special song by Shreya Ghoshal will be released first. Upcoming events include a singing workshop with Arijit Singh, a lyrics lab with Irshad Kamil, and music production sessions with Salim-Sulaiman. The ‘Fanverse’ will allow fans to design merchandise, participate in crowdfunding, and join virtual meetups.

Summing up the vision, Shankar Mahadevan said, “Here, unique collaborations like Aruna Sairam with Sonu Nigam or Vishal-Shekhar with Kaushiki Chakraborty will be seen. This is the new digital form of India’s cultural soul.”

Goongoonalo is more than an app. It is a cultural movement, a community, and a collective dream — now brought to life by the very artists who have defined India’s musical legacy.

Watch CNN-News18 here. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published:

News lifestyle Javed Akhtar, Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahadevan And More Launch Goongoonalo: India’s First Artist-Owned Cultural App



_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}