From Music Academies To EdTech: How India’s Music Education Business Is Evolving

India’s music education landscape is evolving as digital learning platforms, technology-led academies and the growing independent music scene create new opportunities for aspiring musicians. While online platforms are making music education more accessible, industry experts believe that practical training, mentorship and industry exposure remain essential to building sustainable careers in music.

The shift is also expanding the scope of music education beyond traditional vocal and instrumental training. With independent artists increasingly exploring songwriting, music production, sound engineering and artist management, aspiring musicians are seeking a broader understanding of the skills required to navigate the modern music industry.

Rohith Sobti, Founder and CEO of The Shakti Collective, believes that the changing music ecosystem requires aspiring artists to develop a combination of strong musical foundations and industry-oriented skills.

“Today, music is evolving, with independent music gaining momentum. Artists need 360-degree skills and must stay updated with the latest industry developments. At the same time, a strong foundation in classical and Western music, along with an understanding of musical instruments, remains extremely crucial,” Sobti said.

According to Sobti, new-age technology-led academies can help bridge the gap between learning music and building a professional career. He believes that aspiring musicians need access to industry knowledge, practical guidance and the tools required to understand the business beyond their creative pursuits.

“We believe India already has close to a million artists, but they need the right guidance and direction to navigate the industry. That is the niche we have identified at TSA Academy, where we teach core skills through industry experts who bring deep knowledge, practical experience and real-world insights,” he added.

Can digital music education scale without compromising quality?

While digital platforms have widened access to learning, scaling music education presents a distinct challenge, given the discipline’s practical and collaborative nature.

Sobti believes that digital music education needs to evolve beyond conventional online classes, with hybrid models offering a potential way forward.

“Artists and the wider music community need greater confidence in digital learning. Post-Covid, people have become more comfortable with Zoom, but it largely facilitates one-on-one interactions rather than one-to-many learning,” he said.

He believes a combination of pre-recorded content and interactive engagement could help platforms reach larger audiences while retaining the collaborative element that is central to music-making. However, the business model will need to cater either to niche audiences seeking specialised training or to a wider market through more accessible learning formats.

“I believe this transformation will take time,” Sobti said, adding that the growing independent music scene is also encouraging parents to support their children’s musical ambitions. As more independent artists build successful careers, young people are increasingly seeing music as a viable professional path.

Technology and practical learning must work together

Varun Parikh, Founder of Bay Owl Studios and Director of Abbey Road Institute Mumbai, believes digital platforms have made music education more accessible by reducing geographical barriers and enabling students to explore specialised subjects before committing to a professional career.

“Digital platforms over the last decade have removed most of the geographical barriers that traditionally limited students. They have also made it much easier for students to explore unconventional subjects such as production, songwriting, audio engineering and music business before committing to seriously learning further or choosing a professional career path,” Parikh said.

However, he cautioned against viewing the industry’s evolution as a straightforward transition from physical classrooms to online learning. In practical disciplines such as music production and sound engineering, he believes technology must complement hands-on experience rather than replace it.

“The strongest model in a practical field is a combination of technology and real-world experience. Digital tools and platforms are excellent for delivering knowledge, but for professional demonstrations and individual practice with regular feedback, students need access to professional studios, equipment, collaboration, mentorship and feedback from people actively working in the industry,” he said.

Parikh added that institutions combining digital learning with practical exposure and industry mentorship are better positioned to deliver value to students.

Addressing the question of profitability and scale, he said technology can help expand music education, but only when it is applied to the right parts of the learning process.

“The risk of dilution of quality is evident when scalability becomes the primary objective and education in practical fields is reduced to pre-recorded content. Music and audio are ultimately extremely practical and collaborative disciplines, and students need personalised feedback along with interaction with other musicians and producers and, for areas such as recording and engineering, experience working with professional equipment in real environments,” Parikh said.

As India’s music industry continues to expand, the opportunity for music education businesses lies in combining accessibility with depth. Digital platforms can widen the reach of learning, while physical academies and professional studios can provide the hands-on training, mentorship and collaboration that aspiring musicians need.

For the sector, the challenge will be to build scalable models that do more than deliver lessons online,models that equip students with the musical proficiency, technical expertise and industry understanding required to turn their ambitions into sustainable careers.