Empowering Musicians: KalaKumbh Aims to Illuminate Opportunities for Artists
Lubhanshi Garg, the CEO and co-founder of the company, explained that the name “KalaKumbh” directly translates to “the pot of arts,” and this is the vision they have for the platform. The name reflects their aim to create a platform that serves as a rich and diverse repository of various forms of artistic expression and creativity. Just as a pot holds a mixture of different elements, KalaKumbh seeks to bring together a diverse range of artistic talents and content, fostering a vibrant and dynamic artistic community.
With their strong musical backgrounds, Lubhanshi Garg, Mrityunjay Shende, and Tejaaswini Narendra recognized a common challenge in the industry: many individuals who initially pursued a musical career ended up switching paths due to a lack of visibility and access to opportunities, rather than a shortage of opportunities themselves.
To address this gap and offer a solution to fellow musicians, the trio founded KalaKumbh in 2023. The platform was conceived as a way to empower artists by providing them with a space to showcase their talents and connect with a wider audience.
By offering visibility and a platform to aspiring artists, KalaKumbh aims to encourage them to pursue their musical passions more confidently and sustainably. The name “KalaKumbh” captures the essence of their mission, symbolizing a hub where diverse artistic expressions come together to create a rich and fulfilling experience for both creators and audiences.
KalaKumbh, the music tech platform based in Chhattisgarh, serves as a comprehensive ecosystem for musicians, offering them a bridge to various opportunities and resources within the music industry. Through the platform, musicians can connect with event managers, gig agents, fellow musicians, and mentors, forming a network that facilitates their growth and success. This interconnected environment enables artists to explore and apply for a diverse range of music-related gigs, competitions, job opportunities, and collaborative projects.
Lubhanshi Garg, the CEO and co-founder of KalaKumbh, aptly described the platform as a space where musicians can “earn and learn.” It not only provides them with the means to showcase their talents and generate income through performances and gigs but also acts as a hub for skill enhancement, learning from experienced mentors, and collaborating with peers. KalaKumbh’s comprehensive approach aims to nurture and empower musicians at various stages of their careers, fostering a vibrant and supportive community within the music industry.
KalaKumbh operates on a structured process where musicians interested in an opportunity are required to complete a form that includes submitting their portfolio. This portfolio showcases their skills, experience, and previous work, providing a glimpse of their artistic abilities. Once selected for a specific opportunity, the chosen artists receive an advance payment, serving as a booking amount before the actual performance.
The platform boasts a diverse community of musicians, encompassing various roles within the music industry, such as vocalists, rappers, instrumentalists, music producers, composers, and songwriters. These artists hail from different cities across India, including Punjab, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, and more. The platform’s reach spans primarily tier 1 cities, a strategic choice that helps balance the demand and supply of musical talent, ensuring that opportunities are more evenly distributed and accessible to a broad range of artists.
Despite being operational for just a month, KalaKumbh has managed to attract approximately 500 artists who have signed up on the platform. In addition, there are around 28 opportunities listed by various stakeholders in the music industry, including gig agents, event managers, and other musical groups.
Looking forward, the company has ambitious growth plans, aiming to expand its artist base to 9 lakh (900,000) and list 5 lakh (500,000) opportunities on the platform within the next three years. This robust growth is underpinned by a remarkable week-on-week growth rate of 65% since the company’s inception.
As part of its expansion strategy, KalaKumbh is currently in discussions to secure funding. Lubhanshi Garg shared that the company intends to raise a substantial amount, aiming for around $200,000. This capital infusion will aid KalaKumbh in scaling up its operations, enhancing its platform features, and further penetrating the Indian music ecosystem to connect artists and opportunities seamlessly.
While the concept of KalaKumbh might resonate with the gig economy, Lubhanshi Garg emphasizes that the platform’s focus goes beyond merely offering gigs and jobs. Instead, the platform seeks to foster a vibrant musical community by providing a space for artists to connect, collaborate, and grow.
In addition to listing traditional gigs and jobs, KalaKumbh also features opportunities like music competitions and collaborations with other bands and musicians. This approach aligns with the platform’s overarching goal of nurturing a supportive environment where artists can not only find earning opportunities but also engage in creative collaborations and skill enhancement, ultimately enriching the musical ecosystem.
KalaKumbh operates on a subscription-based model, where both artists and event managers are required to subscribe to a plan in order to access and utilize the platform’s services. This approach enables KalaKumbh to sustain its operations and offer its various features and benefits to its users. Artists who want to apply for opportunities, showcase their portfolios, and connect with others within the musical community can do so through their subscription.
Similarly, event managers and gig agents looking to post opportunities, find suitable artists, and streamline their talent search can also benefit from the platform’s subscription plans. This model ensures that both sides of the musical ecosystem have access to a range of features and opportunities that can enhance their experiences and collaborations within the industry.
The Indian music industry has experienced significant growth, with a valuation of Rs 22 billion in 2022 and an anticipated expansion to Rs 33 billion by the end of 2025, reflecting a projected growth rate of 15% over the specified period.
Looking ahead, KalaKumbh has ambitious plans to expand its platform beyond music and delve into other artistic realms. The platform intends to incorporate various art forms such as poetry, painting, sculpting, and performing arts like dance. By broadening its scope to encompass a wider range of creative disciplines, KalaKumbh aims to provide a comprehensive platform that supports and promotes artists across diverse artistic genres. This expansion could create an even more vibrant and interconnected community of creators, fostering collaboration and growth in the Indian arts and cultural landscape.
