Stepping into All About Music it is an overwhelming maze of conversations, master classes, and business debates happening simultaneously across every Ballroom. Looking at the packed schedule you quickly realize there is simply too much happening at once, forcing every attendee to critically filter and prioritize where to invest their time.

For newcomers and first-time Delegates, this constant fear of missing out is at the back of their mind. Yet, there is a distinct magic to how AAM operates: even if you accidentally walk into the wrong sessions, you almost always walk away with an unexpected but vital insight that connects directly back to your craft, business or creative journey. With its 2026 edition, All About Music  brings fresh subjects, emerging opportunities, and unfamiliar frontiers to the table.

Day One

The conference began with an inspiring opening note acknowledging the unseen crew and behind-the-scenes teams who serve as the true backbone of the music industry hosted by Tarsame Mittal. This was followed by Vikram Mehra who remembered the artists and people from the music business who we lost this year.

The morning quickly set a global benchmark with Mira Chatt (Head of Govt. Affairs & Public Policy, India)delivering the IFPI overview on global recorded music where she highlighted India’s potential considering the global market and Asia’s rapidly evolving music industry.

Takayuki Suzuki unpacked market and music-tech opportunities for Indian artists in Japan. Later Yasmine Riechers of Neuman and Syaheed M, VP, Virgin Music Group, stated in 'The Future Has a History' shared insights on music in films during the presentation on success stories of entrepreneurs.

Abhijit Vaghani’s workshop, "Start with a Sound," lived up to its title by beginning with a single audio element and building a complete initial draft of a song from scratch, collaborating live with two artists from the audience. During the session, he highlighted key concepts such as the importance of tuning samples and embracing happy accidents during the creative process. He also introduced his venture, SWAMP Academy, which focuses on songwriting and music production.  

There was an eye-opening conversation titled ‘From Bedroom to Ibiza’, featuring Alex Tripi, Pete Tong, and Garry Blackburn. They discussed electronic music and the participation of Indian artists in Ibiza and other global music festivals. During his presentation, Tripi shared a shocking statistic: Out of 1000 electronic music producers in Ibiza, only one is of Indian origin. He pointed out that despite India’s huge population and rich musical diversity, the numbers remain very low. He also spoke about his academy and how it aims to groom and help Indian and global artists level up as professional electronic music producers.

Dutch music producer Giorgio Tuinfort hosted a master class titled ‘The Mind Behind the Music,’ blending an insightful conversation with a hands-on workshop. He kept engaging students in the workshop and explained that simplicity is important while creating music. He also explained how to find motivation when stuck while creating music. He answered a few questions from the audience, giving guidance and the right path to follow. While attending his master class, he collaborated with two artists from the audience in a live jamming and creation session, indicating how easily collaboration can flow.

Cutting-edge sessions on AI tools and the Sound Verse AI Mixer explored modern creator workflows. Critical panels tackled the delicate balance between commercial safety and artistic identity that confront industry reality. Pitching stages were equally dynamic, featuring the ‘Pitch to Investors’ moderated by Sabbas Joseph co - Founder of Wizcraft, and new sessions where creators pitched music-led IPs directly to brands and venues. Overall, Day One proved to be a comprehensive launch pad bridging grassroots talent with global market realities.

The day ended with a ‘By Invite’ YouTube party featuring bands like OutStation, Damini Bhatla and Garvit Priyansh at the Grand Showroom.

Day Two

Day Two of All About Music began with Chandani Soni, who spoke about the intention to bring the best on board at AAM. She shared her journey from an intern in 2017 she rose to become Business Head of Create and Collab. She informed attendees that AAM chose her, and she is grateful for where she is today.

Sessions held throughout the day explored the intersection of creative identity, commercial synchronization and systemic industry reform. The morning set a strong tone around monetization with the panel ‘Sync Opportunity for Indian Music’, where industry veterans Girish Talwar, Amar Pal Gaind, and Shreyas Sagvekar explained the dual-layered complexity of clearing master and publishing rights. Speakers emphasized that pitching for sync is essentially quoting that "it’s like shooting in the dark”. This was followed by an exclusive fireside conversation with Rashmeet Kaur and YouTube’s Deepti Jasti, underscoring how authentic folk roots anchor modern pop success. Adrian Sarosi provided an overview of the Indian music industry and consumption trends, stating how J-pop and Jazz are the on-demand genres at Indian music streaming platforms. 

A fireside chat featuring Molly Neuman, president of CD Baby and entertainment along with attorney Neeta Ragoowansi outlined how independent creators can build sustainable global touring careers by treating localized sounds as their core export strength, noting that international touring demands calculated budgeting and a dedicated fan base before booking overseas venues. Bosco Martis, dancer/choreographer, was at AAM talking about how to groove and make moves with the song, further announcing his label which will gel dance and music together. In the panel on finding fame and building fandom in the industry the discussion focused on merchandising and how artists can connect to fans in creative ways like live streams and selling their own merch at the counter. 

The evening once again saw a musical showcase of new and established artists performing at the Grand Showroom.

Day Three

The final day of All About Music brought the entire conference together with simple, direct truths about where the business actually makes its money and how artists can own their future.

The morning spotlight illuminated the booming college circuit in ‘The Panel Campus Circuit’, featuring live leaders alongside artists Nucleya and Shalmali kholgade. Panelists revealed how campus festivals have transformed into a massive multi-crore touring market where premier institutions like IITs and Delhi University demand full stadium-level production. Speakers noted that performing for campus crowds requires an immersive physical experience that builds genuine youth loyalty. Managers and promoters advocated for fixing venue layouts by removing awkward front-row VIP sofa setups so energetic students can be at the front.

The afternoon transitioned into songwriting ownership and global crossover strategy with international hip-hop star Raja Kumari. She urged creators to avoid chasing fleeting algorithmic trends, focusing on writing your own lyrics and control over master and publishing rights is the only way to build lasting generational wealth across film and streaming placements. In an engaging ‘Ask Me Anything session with music producer Karan Kanchan, the discussion highlighted how mutual trust between producers and artists creates organic hits.

On the other side there was a fireside chat with Billboard India Chief Operating Officer Preeti Nayyar, who laid out an artist-first roadmap celebrating regional and independent diversity across the country. Promising that the Billboard will bring the charts to India, she noted that at the heart of everything is the artist and the music. “We want artists to know that Billboard is their home,” Nayyar said, adding “In our DNA, we will always be inclusive. We will never talk about a 'South strategy' or 'North strategy' because for us, artists are artists.”

Day Three also saw veteran singer Usha Uthup join RJ Hrishikesh Kannan, who went through Uthup’s extraordinary career and how she has evolved with the times. The singer rocked the house by singing Skyfall and a Bollywood medley. On the other hand, The Colonial Cousins took the audience down memory lane while talking to music guru and industry veteran Atul Churamani. Another notable ‘In Conversation’ session was with classical gurus Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash while talking to curator and consultant Aishwarya Natarajan, who spoke openly on their music legacy and taking Indian classical sounds to the world. Another interesting session was ‘The Future of Music with AI and Cloud’ and ‘Pitch your Music to Filmmakers and Production Houses’, moderated by Sabbas Joseph alongwith panelists like Mohit Suri and others. ‘The Vinyl Revival: Made In India, Made for Music’ curated by Saji Pillai co - founder of Samanvii Digimedia had a full house in attendance glued to know how the physical format is returning with a vengeance.

Conclusion:

The overall experience of All About Music (AAM) 2026 was much different this year. You had new venues, longer duration at Connect Corner, a newly introduced Backstage Access, and a Grand Showcase area for live music performances running throughout the day.

From an artist perspective, the conference covered the entire journey from creating and pitching tracks to securing record deals and also understanding publishing royalties, sync licensing, legal structures, and prioritizing mental health.

Every session provided important insight that allowed artists to explore their own potential while learning from the journeys of others. Beyond individual creators, AAM served as an important meeting ground for new music-tech companies, brands, and event agencies to network, pitch innovative concepts, and build lasting business relationships. It acted as a global junction where professionals from every corner of the music world came together at a single pivotal point. 

AAM proved once again that every corner held something essential for anyone willing to explore its decade-long journey.

Musicunplugged was Media Partner for All About Music.

By Kiran Holkar

Kiran Holkar is a rising I-Pop icon and multi-talented performing artist known by the stage name as KIRAN. She recently released her powerhouse new single, Bullet Rani. Her other tracks include her debut single Take Sweet Talk Sweet Be Sweet and Holi Re Holi. Holkar is an extraordinary, multifaceted force in contemporary entertainment, seamlessly bridging the worlds of music, dance, acting, and choreography.