In this episode of Cyrus Says, Cyrus Broacha sits down with Devraj Sanyal — CEO & MD of Universal Music India and one of the most influential figures in the global music industry.

But before running one of the biggest music companies in the world, Devraj was the frontman of the legendary Indian heavy metal band Brahma that dominated the Indian rock scene in the 90s.

Devraj shares the fascinating journey from performing live gigs and selling 77,000 cassette albums in the 90s to shaping the careers of some of the biggest artists in India and globally.

They discuss:

• The early days of Indian rock bands like Parikrama & Pentagram
• How artists actually make money today through streaming
• Why India still struggles to pay for music
• The future of Bollywood music and independent artists
• Universal Music’s role in building artists like AP Dhillon, Badshah and Anuv Jain
• The rise of live concerts and global touring
• Why mental wellness music is the next big industry

Devraj also explains how Universal Music focuses on artists and creativity first, and why understanding musicians is his biggest advantage as a CEO.

If you've ever wondered how the music industry really works, this episode is a must-watch.