On a humid afternoon in the city, the ballroom at Gokulam Park in Kaloor, Kochi looked less like a conference venue and more like a meeting ground for Kerala’s rapidly evolving music scene. Artists, producers, managers, lawyers and curious independent musicians gathered for Yuga Mix, a one-day event that attempted something the state’s music ecosystem hasn’t often seen, a conversation about the business behind the music.
Held on February 23, the conclave was presented by Yuga Digital and curated by music entrepreneur Arun Yuga. The idea, as many participants described it through the day, was simple: bring together the people who make music and the people who understand the industry around it.
For a state where independent music has grown quickly over the past decade, largely powered by YouTube, Instagram and streaming platforms; conversations around royalties, licensing, artist management and digital growth are still relatively new. The event tried to address that gap through a mix of discussions, workshops and masterclasses.
The day opened with the presence of several familiar names from the Malayalam music circuit including Alphons Joseph, Nandhu Kartha, Jino Kunnumpurath, Jay Stellar, DJ Saint and Haritha Haribabu.
One of the most talked-about sessions was a panel titled “The Indie Blueprint – Navigating the Malayalam Music Ecosystem.” Featuring Theertha Avinash, Rajat Prakash, Ashbin Paulson, Bhadra Sandeep and Abdul Manaf, the discussion unpacked what it actually means to build a career outside the film industry, a path more artists in Kerala are beginning to take.
Elsewhere, sessions led by professionals such as Shreyas Bagalkot, Varish Shah, Sridhar J Swaminathan and Nilesh Thomas explored the less glamorous but crucial side of the industry: sync licensing, music entrepreneurship and the long game of building sustainable careers in a streaming-first era.
Legal awareness also formed a significant part of the programme. Ashwin Sathish Nair and Balamurali Thirumurugan spoke about intellectual property and rights management, while Aiswarya Ravi addressed the growing issue of music theft. In another workshop, Harrison Xavier walked attendees through how algorithms shape visibility on digital platforms, and how artists can better understand the audiences behind the numbers.
Later in the day, a session on artist and music management brought together Arun Yuga alongside Vinayak Mohan, Vignesh Gurulal, Akhil Ramachandran, Rathul Krishna and Hrithwik Sasikumar. The conversation ranged from the realities of building an artist’s career to navigating collaborations, releases and brand partnerships.
Apart from the knowledge sessions, The event also had a dedicated networking sessions and a special “Connect Corner,” where emerging artists and creators got to interact directly with industry experts, labels, and collaborators.
IPRS also announced that Yuga Digital had been selected as an “IP Hub”, a move aimed at increasing awareness about music rights, royalties and intellectual property among creators in Kerala.
If the conversations at Yuga Mix were any indication, Kerala’s music community is increasingly thinking beyond just releasing songs. The industry here, long shaped by cinema, is beginning to ask new questions about ownership, sustainability and independence. And for a day in Kochi, those questions found a room full of people ready to discuss them.
