At the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) held in Mumbai, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan praised India’s explosive growth in the digital content ecosystem, calling the country a “Creator Nation.” In a recent LinkedIn post, he lauded Indian creators for building a powerful economy around creativity, entrepreneurship, and cultural storytelling, and announced significant investments by YouTube to further empower the Indian creator ecosystem.
The recently concluded World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai brought together some of the most influential voices in the global content and media landscape. Among them was YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, who delivered a compelling keynote on India’s rise as a digital content powerhouse. Expressing gratitude to the Indian government for their invitation and hospitality, Mohan acknowledged the role of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in enabling platforms like WAVES.
“What really struck me is how India is rapidly becoming a ‘Creator Nation,’” said Mohan, highlighting how the Indian creator ecosystem is not only thriving but redefining global digital trends. According to Mohan, over 100 million Indian YouTube channels uploaded content last year. Even more impressive is that over 15,000 of these channels have crossed the one million subscriber mark — a number that has more than doubled in just two years.
Mohan underscored how this exponential creator growth is fueling real economic impact. “In the last three years alone, YouTube has paid over ₹21,000 crore to creators, artists, and media companies in India,” he stated. This revenue is directly contributing to the country’s booming digital economy and empowering countless individuals to turn their passions into viable, thriving businesses.
The platform’s commitment to India doesn’t stop there. Mohan announced that YouTube will invest more than ₹850 crore over the next two years to boost the growth of Indian creators, artists, and media partners. This investment aims to further enhance the scale and sustainability of India’s digital content economy.
Beyond funding, YouTube is also deepening its collaborations within the Indian ecosystem. Mohan revealed that YouTube is forging strong partnerships with key institutions like the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies. These collaborations are aimed at nurturing next-gen talent and promoting Indian culture on the global stage.
“YouTube’s global reach has made us a powerful engine of cultural export,” said Mohan. “It’s been amazing to see India leverage this to share its rich traditions, stories, and voices with the world.” He cited examples such as Roshni Mukherjee of LearnoHub and musician Arpan Kumar Chandel, popularly known as King, who are gaining global recognition for their content. In fact, in 2023 alone, content produced in India racked up 45 billion hours of watch time from international audiences.
This massive global consumption of Indian content underscores the country's growing influence in the global digital entertainment sphere. It also validates the vision of India not just as a digital economy but as a vibrant cultural leader in the international arena.
Mohan said he left the WAVES Summit feeling inspired and optimistic about India’s journey to becoming a global hub for creativity and innovation. “India’s creator economy is filled with entrepreneurs, entertainers, and artists who are not just following their passions but also shaping the future of entertainment and education,” he emphasized. As India accelerates its digital transformation, platforms like YouTube are poised to play a critical role in enabling opportunities for millions of creators. With robust investments, strategic partnerships, and a strong belief in India’s creative potential, YouTube’s vision aligns seamlessly with India’s aspiration to lead the world in the audio-visual and entertainment domains.
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