Damroo Raises INR 5 Crore From Hindustan Times To Expand Artist Growth Platform

Damroo, an artist-first music streaming, distribution and growth platform focused on independent and regional music, has secured a strategic investment of INR 5 crore from Hindustan Times to expand its support ecosystem for artists across the country.

The partnership aims to address some of the biggest challenges faced by independent musicians today, including discoverability, audience reach, monetisation and long-term career sustainability.

With the fresh investment, Damroo plans to strengthen its technology infrastructure, scale its artist network, enhance regional music discovery and expand monetisation and fan engagement opportunities for creators nationwide.

As part of the collaboration, Hindustan Times will support the platform through its wider media ecosystem and brand solutions, including Fever FM, along with its digital and entertainment platforms, helping independent artists reach larger audiences.

Commenting on the investment, Karan Katyal, Strategic Partnerships & Investments at HT Media Group, said Damroo is addressing a significant gap in India’s independent music ecosystem through its artist-first approach focused on growth, discoverability and monetisation.

He added that founder Ram Mishra’s experience within the music industry brings valuable perspective to the business and strengthens the company’s long-term vision.

Damroo currently offers services including digital music distribution, publishing administration, YouTube growth management, marketing support, artist collaborations, A&R guidance, royalty collection assistance and financial support for content production.

The platform also enables artists to become members of publishing societies such as Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), allowing them to access long-term publishing royalties and sustainable revenue opportunities.

Speaking about the development, Ram Mishra, Founder of Damroo, said India is witnessing a major rise in independent and regional music talent, although many creators continue to face challenges around visibility, monetisation and career growth.

He said the partnership with Hindustan Times aims to build a technology-driven ecosystem that gives artists access to audience reach, industry infrastructure and scalable growth opportunities.

Mishra, who is also a member of the advisory committee of IPRS, brings over two decades of experience working across music labels and artist ecosystems in India.