We’re buckling in for the very last stretch of 2025, trying our best to be ready for 2026 (and pretending like we’re absolutely ready for it too) while also quietly melting into our chairs. Seriously, where did the time go? The Neon team is oscillating between “new year, new us” energy and “please let us nap for two weeks straight”, so you know, the usual December feelings.
But the chaos comes with good news. Last month, Prarthana officially welcomed a baby (aka recruited Neon’s newest apprentice, and yes, Lolo has been taking her associate duties very seriously to train him up). Congratulations to the family, we really do love a wholesome team expansion.
Let’s rewind a bit.
…with the second edition of DeccanAlt! Brilliant speakers, incredible artists, and the warmest community response- Kochi showed up in the best possible way. DeccanAlt growing this fast still feels surreal, and this edition set the tone for everything that came after.
We were at All About Music’s 9th Edition in Mumbai in August. A whole lot of energy packed into three days. The energy was electric, and it’s always an amazing experience to connect with the industry at large.
Also, somewhere in the middle of all of this, Neon turned 2 (?!) and had an internal restructure with one of our cofounders moving on to other pursuits. Nitya and Arav also completed a whole year at Neon, and their contributions will forever be coded into the DNA of who we are!
We also pivoted our consulting services to more research-focused work and delivered market research and strategic business development initiatives for our clients, and thoroughly enjoyed learning about different parts of the music industry in the process.
We rolled out our Music City Report 2024-25 (Bangalore & Kochi Edition). If there’s one big takeaway, it’s that both cities are actively building their own future: with systems, processes, and community-led solutions, even with almost zero policy-level support. The ecosystem is small but fierce, and this report stands as proof of that.
Music city 2024-25 report: Download here
We also kicked off two collaborative projects - Listen In with Magnisium Media and Mapped with Orange Juice Lab. September was very “Zoom but make it intellectual.”
We started a few things this year that we absolutely loved working on, and you seemed to love them too:
In a sea of algorithms, our aim was simple: human-curated playlists designed to put great music first. We just dropped our very last update for the year, so please, go check it out and dive into some new sounds before the new year hits!
Discover & Save playlists here!
A new series (across IG and LinkedIn) breaking down what every independent artist and manager should know about running their music careers like a business. With the amount of gatekeeping of information, access and tools in the music industry, we decided to share whatever little we know in an open & transparent manner. Topics covered this year ranged from release strategy & distribution, the basics of music marketing, artist identity, to live strategy and a whole lot of things we wish someone had told us earlier.
One of our goals is to highlight and discover amazing music and Indian artists. That’s why we spotlight artists every month- musicians who are creating truly amazing work and deserve the extra shine. You’ve probably seen their mentions in our monthly Freestyle updates or on our Instagram!
Arjun C
Meet Arjun C, guitarist turned indie musician, pop culture nerd, and all-around enthusiast for “the things that make life worth living.” He’s been playing since he was 8, and officially dropped his first single in 2023.
His music feels- “Joyful. Hopeful. Dance-y. Nostalgic for a time that you didn’t even experience”
When he’s not writing or performing, he’s binging anime, playing tennis, or soaking up inspiration from friends, 80s Japanese commercials, and the internet’s most random corners. P.S. His new single Common People is out.
Follow Arjun and listen to their new music here!
Ishaan Nigam
Singer-composer Ishaan, hailing from Bahraich and rooted in Indian classical music, has been crafting melodies since 2019, with 25 singles that explore emotion in every shade. His latest, ‘Pakeezah’, defines love in its purest, most peaceful form.
Most of my compositions come to me while I ride my Activa. I just park, record a thought, and restart the scooter.
Follow Ishaan and listen to their new music here!
Detailed artist features on our Instagram
We also launched our slightly nerdy, occasionally spicy monthly newsletter of essays, reviews and cultural commentary. It comes out on the second Tuesday of every month, and your response to this has been so encouraging. We’re planning to continue it in 2026 with more guest contributors, new voices, and a wider scope of conversations. Some of our most popular pieces include:
Bands are back (Arav Saraff, 16th October 2025)
Gender representation at Indian music festivals (Prarthana Sen, 11th November 2025)
Music review: Cubbon Park by Derek and the Cats (Prarthana Sen, 8th July 2025)
Electronic music is human (Arav Saraff, 5th September 2025)
And.. that’s a wrap on our year, folks! Thank you for reading, sharing, engaging, and supporting everything we do. Have a wonderful and restful end to the year. We’ll be back in your inbox and on your feeds in the new year, ready to make some impact and have fun while we are at it, too!
Cheers,
The Neon Team
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