Renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar, along with leading voices from the Indian music fraternity including Shaan and Shankar Mahadevan, came together on Friday to launch ‘Goongoonalo’, a new music platform that aims to put creative ownership back in the hands of artists.

According to an ANI report, the app was unveiled in Mumbai and is positioned as a creator-led platform where musicians, singers, composers and lyricists are not just contributors but also stakeholders. On its very first day, ‘Goongoonalo’ released 100 original songs, created through equal collaboration between artists, without any fees charged among singers, composers, producers or lyricists.

The launch saw the presence of several prominent artist-investors, including Hariharan, Prasoon Joshi, Shreya Ghoshal, Sameer Anjaan, Shaan, Angaraag Mahanta (Papon), Milind Shrivastava, Anand Shrivastava, Vijay Prakash, Lalit Pandit, Akriti Kakkar, Akshay Hariharan and others. Together, they underlined the platform’s core philosophy of creative freedom and shared ownership.

Explaining what sets ‘Goongoonalo’ apart, Javed Akhtar said the app breaks away from the traditional music business model. Unlike existing platforms that largely monetise already-created music, ‘Goongoonalo’ is owned by the creators themselves. He added that every artist associated with the platform has committed to contributing at least four new songs each year, ensuring a steady stream of fresh, original content.

Shankar Mahadevan described the launch as a landmark moment for music, poetry and creativity. He said the platform offers complete creative freedom, allowing artists to express themselves without being constrained by commercial formulas or market trends.

Singer Shaan echoed similar sentiments, noting that such an artist-owned music company is rare, if not unprecedented. He said ‘Goongoonalo’ finally gives musicians the confidence to release ghazals, personal compositions and long-cherished ideas that may not have fit conventional commercial expectations earlier.

Lyricist Prasoon Joshi said he was drawn to the platform by the people behind it, adding that the collective vision and integrity of the group convinced him to be part of the initiative. Bhajan singer Anup Jalota, meanwhile, encouraged young musicians to join the platform, calling it a unique opportunity where artists can record music on their own terms and also become investors in the app.

Hariharan highlighted the platform’s distinctive structure, pointing out that ‘Goongoonalo’ is possibly the first app where artists are both employees and owners. He said the shareholders are the very people who create the music, making it a rare model in the global music industry.

The platform already hosts a wide range of musical styles, spanning classical, folk, indie pop, ghazals and spoken word. The broader idea, the creators said, is to nurture honest, free-flowing musical expression without the pressure of chasing trends.

The launch event also drew several well-known names from the worlds of film, music and culture, including Shabana Azmi, Jaaved Jaaferi and Siddhartha Roy, marking Goongoonalo’s arrival as a significant moment for India’s creative community.