Transforming Event Soundscapes: Insights from Hoopr.ai's Gaurav Dagaonkar
by Mugdha Gaonkar Industry Watch | October 7, 2024 | Interview
Gaurav Dagaonkar Hoopr.ai
Gaurav Dagaonkar is the Co-founder and CEO of Hoopr.ai, a cutting-edge music licensing platform that connects creators with high-quality, royalty-free music. Under his leadership, Hoopr.ai is revolutionizing the way music is licensed for digital content, events, and commercial use, offering an innovative solution for creators and licensors alike.
In an exclusive interview with EVENTFAQS Media, Gaurav Dagaonkar, Co-founder and CEO of Hoopr.ai, shares valuable insights into the evolving landscape of music licensing for events. Dagaonkar sheds light on what sets Hoopr.ai apart from other platforms, its unique value proposition for both creators and licensors, and the streamlined process of licensing music for events. He also delves into how the platform navigates complex copyright and licensing regulations, particularly in public and commercial event settings, and shares his vision for the future of Hoopr.ai in revolutionizing the event industry.
Q. What sets Hoopr.ai apart from other music licensing platforms? What is the unique value proposition you offer to both creators and licensors?
Hoopr is India’s first and largest music licensing platform, offering a diverse library of 12,500+ high-quality, premium Indian music tracks, building simplified licensing for creators and cost-effective options for licensors. We provide a diverse library of Indian and international music across 300+ genres and 40+ moods, catering to a wide range of 110+ content creation use cases. We have helped soundtrack content for 250,000 creators thus far, including known creators such as Ranveer Brar, Flying Beast, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Mr. Indian Hacker, to name a few.
Our focus on technology and user experience provides a valuable platform for both sides of the music licensing equation—licensors and artists. Hoopr stands out today among other music licensing players because it caters specifically to the Indian market by offering a large library of authentic Indian music in various languages and genres. This is a significant advantage for creators and artists in India who want to reach a local audience and showcase their local culture. Hoopr proudly offers a platform for independent Indian musicians to showcase their work, increasing their discoverability and earning potential.
Q. Could you walk us through the process of licensing music for an event from start to finish?
If a brand or an agency wishes to license Hoopr’s music for an event, an ideal flow would involve the following steps:
Sharing an event brief with our team to help us understand the specifications of the event. Since the platform has such diverse music, understanding the requirements will help us narrow down and shortlist relevant tracks in keeping with the theme of the event. Since all relevant copyrights and music ownership rest directly with Hoopr, all clearances will be handled and taken care of by Hoopr.
Hoopr is also equipped to provide curated artists for live performance-led events—large scale or intimate. We also possess the capability to customize and create ambient sounds for various zones in the event—such as the trade-show floor, food court, speaker’s lounges, common areas, reception, etc.
Hoopr is also a one-stop platform for organizers looking to build sonic identities around their events or build pre- and post-event promotional content for digital advertising, radio marketing, or any other audio/visual format. Throughout this process, all relevant licenses and clearances will be handled by Hoopr in close association with the organizers/brands.
Q. How do you navigate complex copyright and licensing regulations, particularly when music is used in public or commercial settings like events?
All the tracks present on Hoopr’s platform are wholly owned by Hoopr. Hence, the licensing and copyright clearances are fairly straightforward. All digital use cases will be cleared for use on sign-up. Other clearances, such as live events, radio, TV, digital ads, OTT, and worldwide clearances, are also managed directly by Hoopr. Since we own all of the music listed on our platform, there is no third-party involvement.
Q. Finally, what excites you most about the future of Hoopr.ai and the role it will play in the event industry?
I feel that post-COVID, the event landscape in India has largely evolved and emerged into a fast-growing space with immense scope for innovation. Hoopr can solve for several lacunae in the event space.
- Simplifying Music Licensing for Event Organizers: Hoopr's user-friendly platform and streamlined licensing process can significantly reduce the time and complexity associated with music licensing for event organizers. This allows them to focus on other aspects of the event, leading to a smoother planning experience.
- Recommendations for Enhanced Music Curation: Hoopr can recommend music based on the event type, target audience, and desired atmosphere. This personalized approach ensures that event organizers find the perfect music that elevates the event experience without extensive searching.
- Democratizing Access to Diverse Indian Music: For event organizers, Hoopr offers a vast library of Indian music across various genres and languages. This opens doors to a wider range of musical selections, catering to specific cultural preferences and creating a more immersive experience for attendees.
- Curated Performances: Based on Hoopr's larger mission of being an artist-first platform and the growing popularity of independent music, we are actively working on initiatives to discover and promote emerging Indian artists. We are constantly scouting for newer talent by seeking out talented musicians and bands across India.
We feel that events fit in seamlessly with this thought process, as it will give a great platform for our artists to thrive.
In an exclusive interview with EVENTFAQS Media, Gaurav Dagaonkar, Co-founder and CEO of Hoopr.ai, shares valuable insights into the evolving landscape of music licensing for events.