In the rapidly evolving independent music ecosystem, technology has made it easier than ever for artists to release music worldwide. Yet for many musicians, understanding the business behind those releases remains complicated.
For Manas Baranwal, a 22-year-old founder from Maunath Bhanjan in Uttar Pradesh, this gap between creativity and industry knowledge became the reason to build something new.
Manas is the co-founder of DireNote Media (DNM), a music services platform he built alongside Aditya Mishra. Since launching publicly in early 2024, the platform has worked with more than 1000 artists and labels and distributed over 3000 music releases across digital streaming platforms.
In March 2026, the startup crossed an early milestone, processing more than ₹1 million in revenue.
But for Manas, the milestone represents something more than just numbers.
From Artist Support to Startup Growth
Before founding DNM, Manas had already spent time working closely with independent artists through small label initiatives. During that phase, he noticed a recurring pattern: many musicians believed that once their songs were uploaded to streaming platforms, success would eventually follow.
The reality turned out to be very different.
Manas realized that distribution alone rarely determined whether a song reached an audience. Marketing strategy, audience engagement, and understanding the business side of music were often just as important as the music itself.
These observations gradually shaped the idea behind DNM.
When Manas began developing the platform, Aditya Mishra joined the effort as a co-founder, bringing additional perspective and operational support to the project. Together, Manas and Aditya focused on creating a system that could help independent artists navigate the industry more effectively.
Building Beyond Distribution
While distribution remains the core service of DNM, Manas and Aditya designed the platform to support artists in multiple areas of the music ecosystem.
Today, the platform offers services such as marketing support, playlist placements, publishing assistance, and what Manas describes as 360-degree revenue collection, helping artists access earnings from multiple sources including publishing societies and streaming platforms.
The goal is to ensure artists do not rely on a single revenue stream.
Manas believes that many independent musicians struggle financially not because of a lack of talent, but because they are not fully aware of how different parts of the industry operate.
“Distribution makes music available,” Manas explains. “But building a sustainable career requires understanding how the entire ecosystem works.”
Growth and Milestones
DNM’s growth accelerated significantly during 2025.
Manas recalls September 2025 as a turning point, when the platform experienced a sharp increase in activity and revenue compared to previous months. That period reinforced the belief that the system they were building was beginning to resonate with artists.
Behind the scenes, Aditya Mishra played a major role in strengthening the technical and operational systems that allowed the platform to handle increasing activity and artist onboarding.
As the platform expanded, managing releases and ensuring proper verification also brought new challenges, including copyright-related issues and operational complexity. These experiences forced the team to continuously refine their systems and workflows.
Despite these challenges, the platform continued growing.
By March 2026, DNM crossed the ₹1 million revenue milestone, marking one of the first significant financial benchmarks for the young startup.
A Different Approach to Building a Startup
Unlike many founders who follow rigid work schedules, Manas approaches building the company with a more fluid routine.
Instead of working within fixed hours, he often works on the startup whenever time allows, whether late at night or early in the morning. At the same time, Manas has been balancing startup responsibilities with completing his final year of engineering studies.
For Manas and Aditya, building DNM has been less about chasing rapid growth and more about creating a system that independent artists can trust.
Looking Ahead
While the early milestones have been encouraging, Manas believes the real challenge for DNM lies ahead.
The long-term goal is to build credibility within the music industry, particularly among independent artists and labels who are often navigating the business side of music without institutional support.
Manas often emphasizes that the purpose of the platform is not simply to operate as another distribution service.
Instead, he and Aditya Mishra want DNM to become a platform that genuinely helps artists understand and navigate the complex ecosystem around their music.
For Manas, the mission behind the startup remains closely tied to the reason he entered the music industry in the first place.
Helping artists build sustainable careers.
Visit:
Manas Baranwal | Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manasbaranwal/
Manas Baranwal | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfumanas/
