The Indian Music Charts Podcast

The Indian Music Charts Podcast

Author: Amit Gurbaxani and Akhila Shankar Language: English Episodes: 20
Every Tuesday, The Indian Music Charts Podcast offers a unique look behind the numbers that shape India's soundscape. Hosted by music journalist Amit Gurbaxani and content strategist Akhila Shankar, this podcast uses the weekly charts not as a simple ranking, but as a starting point for deeper exploration. Their conversation moves beyond which song landed at number one to ask why it resonated, examining the business decisions, cultural shifts, and streaming algorithms that propelled it there. You'll hear a blend of Gurbaxani's industry insight as a charts enthusiast and Shankar's analytical perspective as a data expert, making for discussions that are both informed and accessible. Each episode naturally evolves from specific chart movements into broader themes, tackling everything from regional music breakthroughs and the impact of film soundtracks to the evolving economics of streaming and predicting what sound might dominate next. This isn't just a countdown; it's a weekly analysis for anyone curious about the forces driving Indian music. Tune in for a thoughtful dissection of listener trends, artist strategies, and the future of the industry, all grounded in the real-world data of the charts. The podcast provides context to the numbers, connecting the dots between a chart position and the larger story of India's dynamic music business.
Episodes
Do celebrity endorsements help tracks break through? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:07
We highlight key movements on the Spotify Weekly Top Songs India chart published on May 12. On this week’s discussion - how far a celeb co-sign can boost a song\'s listenership with a deep dive on the Mass Appeal release…
Do reality TV talent hunts build careers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
On this week\'s episode, we talk about key movements on the Spotify Weekly Top Songs India chart published on May 5, and discuss how much of an impact reality TV talent shows have on participants\' short and long-term su…
Why did the No.1 song go AWOL? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:36
We launch a new season and format where we highlight key movements on Spotify\'s Weekly Top Songs India chart. This week, we discuss the survey published on April 28 and talk about how a case of streaming fraud caused th…
Should independent acts sign with labels? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:11
In this segment, we discuss the pros and cons of deals with major labels, many of which have recently launched indie music divisions
Is This Song Really #1? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:38
n this segment, we discuss how sometimes, the chart topper isn't always the most popular song of a country. We also get a short history lesson about the US Billboard Charts and how they work.
How short should a song be? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:03
In this segment, we discuss the trend of songs becoming shorter and whether the length of a track has any impact on its stream count.
To video or not video? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:24
In this segment, we talk about the right release strategy for an artists and the relative merits of dropping an audio and video simultaneously, going audio-first or audio-only.