From MGMP to CMGMP: CM Conrad Sangma unveils ambitious music vision

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 23, 2025

The Government of Meghalaya unveiled Season 3 of the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (MGMP) Saturday evening on World Music Day, now restructured and renamed as the Chief Minister’s Grassroots Music Programme (CMGMP).

The event, held at Lariti Main Auditorium, Shillong, was graced by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma as Chief Guest and Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh as Guest of Honour, in the presence of artists, officials, stakeholders, and an enthusiastic crowd of music lovers.

In his keynote address, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma shared deeply personal reflections from his youth as a struggling musician. He spoke candidly of the difficulties musicians faced two to three decades ago—from organizing their own concerts to struggling for recognition and access to instruments.

These experiences, he said, have shaped his government’s vision to ensure the next generation of musicians never has to walk that lonely path again.

“We want to give our young people the thrill of performing on stage, the recognition they deserve, and a platform to pursue their passion,” he said.

The Chief Minister outlined how the MGMP initiative, which started modestly with Rs 3.5 crores and 2,500 artists in its first year, has grown exponentially into a Rs 69 crore program supporting over 5400 artists and more than 38000 performances across the state.

He announced that MGMP, now renamed CMGMP, will no longer remain a short-term project but will evolve into a permanent, structured, and annual government program.

This transformation will include the creation of fixed performance schedules, standardized venues across Meghalaya like Ward’s Lake in Shillong and major spots Tura, and integrated training in music theory and reading/writing music.

Taking the vision forward, he emphasized the need to support artists not just through live performances but also by building a sustainable music industry. He proposed new initiatives to provide recording studios, high-quality instruments, and equipment to artists, especially those in need.

The government also plans to introduce competitions and structured support systems for music production and technical capacity-building. “This program must now go beyond just allowing performances—it must create original music, preserve our traditional sounds, and take Meghalaya’s talent to the national and global stage,” he declared.

He called upon local musicians to explore the roots of their heritage and find ways to integrate it into modern performances. “Our identity is embedded in our music, and our culture must have a place on the world stage,” he said.

The Chief Minister also released two landmark documents during the event—the CMGMP Rock and Tourism Festival Booklet and the Council Technology Booklet.

He also announced that over the last year alone, the state hosted seven major concerts across 13 days with 3.86 lakh attendees, generating Rs 133.42 crores in economic returns from Rs 23.5 crores of public investment—a return on investment of 5.6x. These events also created over 5,500 jobs per day and brought in tourists from more than 20 Indian states.

Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, in his speech, described music as being deeply ingrained in the soul of Meghalaya. Drawing from The Sound of Music, he said, “The hills are alive with the sound of music,” capturing the growing presence of CMGMP performances even in remote villages. He praised the transformation of music from a hobby into a source of livelihood and urged all aspiring artists to register with CMGMP and be part of this cultural movement.

Earlier, Dr. Vijay Kumar D., Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Tourism, in his welcome address, highlighted how the state’s strategic focus on creative industries—particularly music—has positioned Meghalaya as a national leader in this space. He expressed pride in releasing Meghalaya’s first official Concert Economy Report, and emphasized the massive multiplier effect that music and tourism have created for the state’s economy.

The MGMP Awards Ceremony, a much-awaited segment of the evening, honoured artists from Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills. Winners included Bending Waves, Magnificent Obsession, Strange Origin, Neil Umwi, Vanessa Suchiang, Snam Rangsa, among others. Special recognition was given to Mayan Khasi, Bachin Yana Momin, and Chevinia as the youngest performers, Tekisha Shabong and Khongsam under “The Sound of Music” awards for differently-abled artists, Dan & Zac and Ricky Dawa as fan favourites, and Eno Kharkongor as Best Gospel Artist. A total of Rs 10,00,000 in prize money was distributed.
The emotional high point of the evening came during a special live performance by popular indie pop artist Anuv Jain, known for hits like Baarishein, Gul, and Husn. His acoustic performance mesmerized the audience and struck a deep chord with Meghalaya’s youth. In a spontaneous and memorable moment, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma joined Anuv Jain with his guitar for a collaborative jam backstage. The crowd erupted in applause as the two performed together, symbolizing the deep, personal commitment of Meghalaya’s leadership to nurturing music and artists.