It is probably one of the most influential music festivals in the world today. One of Belgium’s greatest exports to the world of electronic dance music, Tomorrowland, has seen the who’s who of the EDM world take to the stage.
From Avicii, Tiesto, Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta, Armin van Buuren and Axwell to Paul van Dyk, Steve Aoki and Fatboy Slim, anybody who is really anybody in the EDM space has graced Tomorrowland. With such a rich lineage to boast, Tomorrowland is set to take India by storm. If the strong buzz in the local EDM circuit is to be believed, a major announcement is due early next month.
Says an industry source, “The live performances wing of Universal Music India will be bringing the feted Tomorrowland experience to India. India has emerged as a major EDM destination after Sunburn and it’s no surprise that there is international attention on the scene here. Universal is looking to expand its live music space in India and there can be nothing bigger than Tomorrowland to do it for them. It’ll be the biggest event in the country’s growing music calendar.”
Universal Music India is headed by former frontman of India’s heavy metal legends Brahma, Devraj Sanyal. Sanyal has EDM experience thanks to his three-and-a-half-year stint with Percept, the promoters of Sunburn. He was a part of the core team that conceptualised Sunburn and left Percept to head Universal Music’s India and SAARC region. When asked about his involvement with Tomorrowland, Sanyal paused and said, “We’re neither confirming, nor denying that we’re doing Tomorrowland… or other projects for that matter. We’re currently ironing out some details of a project we’re working on and will make an announcement when the time is right… probably in October. We’ve consolidated on our merchandise business as well as non-label ones, so intellectual property will be a major part of our focus now.”
Tomorrowland, which has largely been the preserve of Belgium, has under the Tomorrowland World banner also moved to the United States, and will make its debut in South America next year as Tomorrowland Brasil. Let’s hope the announcement next month will give us a chance for Tomorrowland India. Watch this space…
