Raphael Warjri

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday announced a series of initiatives to strengthen Meghalaya's music ecosystem while felicitating singer-songwriter Chegim Durama as the CM-MGMP 'Achiever of the Month' during a programme in Tura.

Addressing musicians, entrepreneurs and youth, the Chief Minister said the 'Achiever of the Month' initiative, launched in 2018 to promote entrepreneurship, will now be expanded to recognise outstanding achievers from different sectors every month, beginning with music.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to the creative industry, Sangma urged artists to produce original music by blending indigenous sounds with contemporary styles to create a global identity for Meghalaya's music. He also announced that major festivals, including the Cherry Blossom Festival, will feature dedicated segments for original performances by local artists.

Highlighting key infrastructure projects, he said a 40,000-50,000 capacity performing arena is coming up at the Knowledge City in Mawkynrew, besides plans for a Music Institute in Tura, a music-themed hotel, and a Film City and Film Institute in Shillong.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need for professionalism in the music industry, calling for greater investment in recording studios, artist management and music education. He later interacted with musicians from across the state to gather feedback on strengthening the sector.

CM-MGMP Season 4 is expected to be launched soon with enhanced support for original music, artist training, transparent artist management, wider exposure and continued paid performance opportunities.

Awardee Chegim Durama, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Tura, credited the CM-MGMP for transforming his musical journey, saying the programme enabled him to invest in music production and continue pursuing his passion as an independent artist.