Nurturing India’s indie voice: Challenges and recommendations for popular music education

India’s independent music scene is growing, yet formal popular music education struggles to prepare students for its unique challenges. This study explores the experiences of over forty Indian independent musicians, industry personnel and educators through interviews conducted between 2015 and 2023. Findings reveal systemic barriers in the industry, including inadequate organizational structures and compensation issues. However, opportunities are emerging in screen media and live events. The study identifies gaps in skills development, particularly in entrepreneurship and business acumen, and tensions exist between global and local perspectives in curriculum design. Recommendations include fostering stronger partnerships between formal institutions and local music scenes, implementing student-run enterprises and community-based projects to bridge theory and practice and developing more flexible, customized training programmes. These strategies aim to better equip students for the realities of portfolio careers in India’s evolving independent music landscape while nurturing a sustainable ecosystem for the sector.