New Delhi / Mumbai : The Theme Music Competition (TMC) will take place from May 1-4, 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre & Jio World Gardens in Mumbai. With a focus on four key pillars—Broadcasting & Infotainment, AVGC-XR, Digital Media & Innovation, and Films-WAVES will bring together leaders, creators and technologists to showcase the future of India’s entertainment industry.
The competition’s theme, “Song of India,” highlights the power and richness of Indian music. It is part of the WAVES pillar 1 Broadcasting and Infotainment. A total of 178 participants registered for the competition.
The Theme Music Competition (TMC) celebrates the true musical spirit of India. It invites songwriters, singers, performers, and music creators to craft a music piece that reflects Indian classical music or a fusion of classical and contemporary styles. Hosted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) and in collaboration with the Indian Music Industry (IMI), TMC is part of the Create in India Challenge, organized under the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES).
The World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in its first edition is a unique hub and spoke platform poised for the convergence of the entire Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector. The event is a premier global event that aims to bring the focus of the global M&E industry to India and connect it with the Indian M&E sector along with its talent.
Guidelines and Registration Process
Only Indian participants were allowed to take part, and all of them went through a detailed process and followed certain rules to compete:
Competition Details
In this competition, songwriters, singers, performers and music creators participated to create and share a piece of music inspired by Indian classical music or a fusion of classical and contemporary instruments and styles.
The competition unfolded in two stages: the preliminary stage and the finale stage.
The theme of the competition, “Song of India,” encouraged participants to focus on blending Indian classical music with contemporary styles, resulting in a cohesive and culturally rich musical composition.
Important Timelines
Here are the key dates and timelines for the event:
Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation criteria for the Theme Music Competition were designed to ensure a thorough and fair assessment. A panel of Indian music industry experts reviewed the submissions in two stages to select the top 6 finalists. The finalists were chosen based on the following criteria:
Prizes and Recognition
A total of six winners were selected in the competition, including one grand prize winner and five runner-ups. The details of the prizes:
Grand Prize (1 Winner):
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- Cash prize or an alternative prize
- Professional recording and production of the composition
- Feature in promotional materials and social media
- Mentorship session with a renowned musician or composer
- Invitation to WAVES
Runner-Up Prizes (5 Winners):
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- Cash prize or an alternative prize
- Recognition on the summit website and social media
- Invitation to WAVES
Conclusion
The Theme Music Competition (TMC), a part of the WAVES initiative, celebrated the rich musical heritage of India, encouraging participants to create original compositions inspired by Indian classical music. With strong participation and a thorough evaluation process, the competition brought together diverse talent, showcasing the depth of Indian music. The event offered exciting prizes, including mentorship and global recognition, highlighting the winners’ contributions to the future of India’s entertainment industry.
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