Naxos Music Group Expands Its Presence in India

Naxos Music Group, the world’s largest independent classical music company, has announced a strategic initiative to expand its activities in India. The move reflects the company’s long-term vision to strengthen classical music’s presence in emerging regions and to foster new collaborations across performance, education, and recording.

“India is one of the most exciting cultural frontiers in the world today,” said Matthias Lutzweiler, CEO of Naxos Music Group. “With its rich heritage, youthful energy, and rapidly developing arts education landscape, India represents both a tremendous opportunity and an inspiring partner in the growth of classical music. Naxos is investing in establishing a stronger presence here, building distribution, partnerships, and recording opportunities that reflect the country’s creative potential.”

Expanding Access and Distribution in a Growing Market

India’s music and performing arts sector is entering a period of transformation, marked by a new wave of cultural investment from visionary individuals and institutions. Across major cities, philanthropists and private foundations are building museums, performing arts centres, and international schools with a strong focus on creativity, global engagement, and cultural exchange.

With a population exceeding 1.4 billion and one of the world’s largest youth demographics, India offers a vast and largely untapped audience for classical music, both as an educational discipline and as a performing art.

As part of its regional strategy, Naxos is expanding distribution networks and digital accessibility to its acclaimed streaming and educational platforms, including Naxos Music Library and Naxos Music Box, across India. These resources, already used by thousands of educational institutions worldwide, have attracted strong interest from schools, universities, and international education networks seeking to integrate classical music learning into their curricula.

“Education has always been central to the Naxos philosophy,” said Lutzweiler. “By bringing Naxos Music Library and Naxos Music Box into Indian classrooms, we are not only giving students access to the world’s finest recordings but also inspiring a new generation to listen, learn, and engage deeply with music.”

Cultural Exchange and Artist Development

In addition to its educational efforts, Naxos is exploring new opportunities to collaborate with Indian musicians, ensembles, and composers, reflecting the country’s growing international influence in the performing arts. The company recognises India’s remarkable diversity, from its centuries-old classical traditions to the evolving Western classical and crossover scenes that are now flourishing in major cities.

Preliminary discussions are underway with leading cultural and musical institutions in Mumbai and beyond, including exploratory cooperation with the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and its resident ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI).

During a recent visit to Mumbai, representatives of Naxos met with Mr. Khushroo N. Suntook, Chairman of the NCPA, and Mr. Marat Bisengaliev, Founding Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra of India. Both leaders have been instrumental in shaping India’s classical music landscape. Mr. Suntook has built the NCPA into the country’s foremost centre for the performing arts, while Mr. Bisengaliev has led the SOI to international acclaim, establishing India’s first and only professional orchestra.

The Naxos delegation also attended an SOI performance, engaged with students of the SOI Music Academy for gifted young musicians, and toured the NCPA’s extensive facilities, learning about the organisation’s wide-ranging cultural programmes, which encompass Indian classical music, Western music, dance, theatre, photography, and education. The visit provided valuable insight into India’s vibrant arts environment and reaffirmed Naxos’ commitment to exploring meaningful collaborations that advance music education and performance.

Strategic Growth and Local Engagement

To strengthen its activities in India, Naxos has been collaborating with creative industry professionals and consultants, including Nikhil Sardana, Founder-Editor of Serenade Magazine, who has been advising the company on domestic outreach and cultural partnerships. Through these collaborations, Naxos aims to deepen its connection with local institutions, expand awareness of its catalogue, and identify new opportunities for artist engagement and educational cooperation.

These efforts form part of a wider Naxos expansion plan across Asia, where the company is developing tailored approaches for each region’s unique musical culture and economic landscape. India stands out as a priority market, combining a strong tradition of both Indian and Western classical music with an increasingly international arts education infrastructure.

Looking to the Future

“Naxos has always believed that the future of music lies with our young audiences,” said Lutzweiler. “India embodies that belief. It is a nation where music education, artistic curiosity, and creative collaboration are growing rapidly. We are proud to explore new possibilities here and to contribute to the long-term development of music in this part of the world.”

Through these initiatives, Naxos aims to bring its global experience in recording, distribution, and digital learning to bear in India’s evolving cultural landscape, supporting the next generation of musicians, educators, and audiences.

About Naxos Music Group

Naxos Music Group, operating worldwide, is the world’s largest independent classical music label, representing tens of thousands of recorded works in classical, jazz, and world music. With a catalogue encompassing recordings from thousands of artists and ensembles, Naxos is committed to making music accessible globally through digital distribution, physical media, and licensing across diverse industries, including film, television, and now gaming.