Forget record deals and TV talent shows—India’s next big music stars are finding their audience on screens, not stages. And YouTube is leaning in hard. With its expanded Foundry program and new Music Nights series, the platform is no longer just a launchpad. It’s a full-blown ecosystem. At the WAVES summit earlier this year, Dharavi Dream Project’s young rappers shared the mic with none other than Alan Walker. The message was loud: India’s streets have stories, and YouTube is ready to take them global. These aren’t polished pop acts—they’re raw, unpredictable, and exactly what the world wants next. The numbers back it up. Between 2022 and 2024, YouTube funnelled over ₹21,000 crore into Indian creators and media companies. And it’s not stopping. The platform is giving indie artists tools, training, and algorithms that favour authenticity over formula. The new gatekeepers don’t wear suits—they write code.