Consider has elevated Akhila Shankar to the position of Director of Artist Companies for India and South Asia, with the chief persevering with to guide TuneCore within the area alongside the expanded remit.
Based mostly in Mumbai, Shankar will tackle the brand new place instantly whereas persevering with to supervise TuneCore India and South Asia. In her expanded remit, she’s going to deal with artist improvement, deepening label and artist partnerships, and strengthening native capabilities, with an emphasis on constructing pathways for regional and worldwide progress.
The appointment follows the departure of Shilpa Sharda, Consider India’s outgoing Director of Artist Companies, who’s leaving the corporate after 12 years “to pursue different pursuits,” the corporate mentioned.
“Constructing TuneCore in India has been a deeply rewarding journey. It’s formed how I take into consideration the programs impartial artists want for his or her progress and long-term profession sustainability,” mentioned Shankar.
“This subsequent chapter with Consider looks like a pure extension of that work. I’m excited to construct extra related pathways for artists, from discovery to improvement and assist them extra holistically as they develop. There’s rather a lot to be completed, and I’m wanting ahead to what we will construct collectively.”
“Constructing TuneCore in India has been a deeply rewarding journey. It’s formed how I take into consideration the programs impartial artists want for his or her progress and long-term profession sustainability.”
Akhila Shankar, BELIEVE
Vivek Raina, Managing Director of Consider India, added: “Because the music panorama in India and South Asia evolves, our focus stays on constructing a strong ecosystem that helps artists at each stage of their journey.
“Akhila’s deep understanding of the market, mixed along with her monitor document of execution, makes her properly positioned to guide this subsequent part of progress for our Artist Companies enterprise.”
Shankar was named Head of TuneCore, South Asia in January 2024, succeeding Heena Kriplani, who had constructed the distributor’s South Asia enterprise from its launch in 2020. Earlier than becoming a member of TuneCore, Shankar served as Director, Worldwide at subscription podcast and audio firm Luminary, and beforehand spent greater than seven years at Indian streaming platform JioSaavn, the place she held roles together with Director and Head of Model, Comms and Advertising.
“Because the music panorama in India and South Asia evolves, our focus stays on constructing a strong ecosystem that helps artists at each stage of their journey.”
Vivek Raina, Consider
In accordance with Consider, TuneCore’s impartial releases within the area embrace music from artists resembling Ritviz and Talwiinder, in addition to tasks with Well-known Studios for Diljit Dosanjh.
The Consider Artist Companies roster within the area, in the meantime, consists of artists resembling Sanju Rathod, Cheema Y and Gur Sidhu.
Consider has operated in India since 2013 and has expanded its footprint by way of a collection of acquisitions, together with its 2019 buy of Venus Music — rebranded as Ishtar in 2021 — and its 2021 acquisition of a 76% stake in Tamil-language soundtrack label Suppose Music for €13 million (roughly $14.6 million on the time). In early 2024, Consider additionally acquired a Punjabi-language catalog from India-based White Hill Music, and in June 2025 the corporate launched Mahra Tora, an imprint devoted to Haryanvi music.
In a June 2024 interview with MBW, Consider Founder and CEO Denis Ladegaillerie described the corporate as “the biggest participant” in India on native repertoire, and recognized India as one of many Prime 10 markets the place Consider intends to retain a outstanding place.Music Enterprise Worldwide
