~ BookMyShow Foundation’s not-for-profit, BookAChange, focuses on empowering underprivileged individuals and communities across India and transforming lives through the magic of music and performing arts ~
~ BookAChange is excited to introduce its new music scholarship program, pledging 500 music scholarships, aimed at empowering talented individuals from underprivileged backgrounds in India ~
~ Apart from the scholarships, BookAChange will also initiate impact-led initiatives empowering lives through music with a Hip-Hop Theatre, Indian Classical Choirs, Mobile Music Studios and curate live music concert experiences for our beneficiaries across India ~
~ In a powerful demonstration of its impact, BookAChange recently took 25 beneficiaries, comprising 20 students and 5 music educators, on a transformative journey to Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour in Mumbai, marking a life-changing first for many ~
Staff Reporter : New Delhi, 17th. February, 2025. BookMyShow Foundation proudly announces the launch of BookAChange, dedicated to enriching lives of underprivileged talent through the transformative power of music and performance arts.
Originally launched as BookASmile in 2014 by BookMyShow, India’s leading entertainment destination, the impact-led initiative has now evolved into BookAChange, with a renewed vision to democratise access to music and the performing arts, for individuals and communities from marginalised backgrounds. At the core of BookAChange lies a powerful pledge towards inspiring and nurturing future pioneers in music and performing arts. Beyond just music and performance skills, BookAChange encourages holistic development, fostering emotional, social and intellectual growth in its beneficiaries. This approach aims to instil qualities such as responsibility, self-esteem, empathy, purpose and resilience, creating well-rounded individuals ready to make their mark on the world.
BookAChange is excited to introduce its new music scholarship program, pledging 500 music scholarships, aimed at empowering talented individuals from underprivileged backgrounds across India. BookAChange Music Scholarships will support students and street artists pursuing education in music and the business of music at accredited institutions. This includes, but is not limited to music education in fields such as Instrumental, Vocals, Audio Production, Business of Music, and Song-writing. BookAChange will offer financial assistance to students from marginalised backgrounds. The application process to avail a BookAChange Music Scholarship is now open here
Seamlessly integrated with the BookMyShow platform, BookAChange harnesses the collective spirit of millions of entertainment enthusiasts to drive meaningful change. With each ticket purchase, starting from donating just Re. 1/-, consumers are invited to be a part of something bigger – fueling a movement that touches lives through music. Direct contributions, beyond these micro-donations, are also welcome here.
Speaking about the launch of BookAChange, Farzana Cama Balpande, Head – BookAChange, said, “BookAChange marks the beginning of a new chapter where our commitment to making a difference through the arts deepens and expands. With BookAChange, we aim to amplify our impact by nurturing dreams, bridging gaps and creating inclusive access where everyone has the chance to flourish. We want to democratise access to music and the performing arts, empower marginalised individuals and communities and inspire the next generation of industry trailblazers. Our journey ahead is not just about the arts; it’s about inspiration, collaboration and a relentless pursuit of a brighter world for all.”
BookAChange is set to launch a series of transformative initiatives across India, reinforcing its mission to make music education accessible to all. In Mumbai, 30 students from Dharavi are receiving specialised training in Rap and DJing, equipping them with essential skills under expert mentorship to showcase Dharavi Dreams, India’s first-ever hip-hop musical theatre. Additionally, 125 children from Mumbai’s BMC schools are currently on an intensive 10-month journey in Hindustani classical music through a specialised choir program, opening doors to advanced learning and certification.
Expanding its reach to Delhi, BookAChange supports a Music Bus, a mobile recording studio that provides over 6,000 children with hands-on experience in songwriting, recording and music production. Further spreading the joy of music, the ‘#MusicForAll’ initiative brings therapeutic music sessions to senior citizen homes, orphanages reaffirming the profound healing power of melodies across generations. Through these impactful programs, BookAChange continues to champion music as a force for empowerment, expression and social change.
In a powerful demonstration of its impact, BookAChange recently took 25 beneficiaries, comprising 20 students and 5 music educators, on a transformative journey to Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour in Mumbai, marking a life-changing first for many. For the students, attending this concert was nothing short of exhilarating. Nikhil Bidlan, one of the beneficiaries, shared his excitement, stating, “I’m so excited to have attended the first concert of my life! The music, the lights, the energy – everything felt like a dream. It made me feel like anything is possible if you believe. I will never forget this day”. Arya Bhoir echoed this sentiment, adding, “When the music started, I felt so happy inside. I closed my eyes and just listened. It was the best feeling ever. Now, I want to learn more, practice more, and maybe one day, I can be on a stage like that too.”
The experience was equally impactful for the music educators. For them, it was not just about witnessing a world-class performance but also about drawing inspiration to enrich their teaching. The event provided invaluable lessons in music appreciation and the power of live performances, inspiring both students and educators alike. Pooja Waghela, a music educator, said, “Seeing my students experience live music like this was very special. It showed them how powerful music can be. It also gave me new ideas to teach them and make learning more exciting. Thank you, BookAChange, for making this possible for us.”
Additionally, the second edition of Red Lorry Film Festival will be brought to you by BookAChange, by BookMyShow Foundation, aiming to raise funds to support emerging artists and daily wage workers in the cinema industry.
For a decade, BookASmile has been the heart of BookMyShow that spreads countless smiles, enriching the lives of underprivileged children through experiences in music, art, theatre, dance and sports. This spirit of uplifting and empowering those from disadvantaged backgrounds has always been the essence of BookASmile. Through the transition to BookAChange, it will carry forward this legacy with a renewed focus on the transformative power of music and performing arts. BookAChange will now fuel its commitment towards music and performing arts, continuing to build on the foundation laid by BookASmile.
Make it count and BookAChange with us!
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About BookAChange:
BookAChange, by BookMyShow Foundation was created with a vision to democratise access to music and the performing arts, for underprivileged individuals and communities, fostering a platform to inspire and cultivate the future trailblazers of the industry. Originally launched as BookASmile in 2014 by BookMyShow, India’s leading entertainment destination, the initiative has recently evolved into BookAChange, with a renewed goal to establish a vibrant, culturally diverse community driven by the power of music and performance.
Integrated into the BookMyShow platform since its inception, BookAChange leverages the vast customer base to raise funds. Every consumer has the opportunity to contribute, starting from just Re. 1 per ticket, towards its charitable endeavours. In addition to these micro-donations, the initiative welcomes direct donations to support its primary focus on music, performance and cultural initiatives. For more information, please visit www.bookachange.org.
About BookMyShow
Launched in 2007, BookMyShow, owned and operated by Big Tree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (founded in 1999), is India’s leading entertainment destination with global operations and the one-stop shop for every entertainment need. The firm is present in over 700 towns and cities in India and works with partners across the industry to provide unmatched entertainment experiences to millions of customers. Over the years, the company has evolved from a purely online ticketing platform for movies across 7,000 plus screens, to end-to-end management of live entertainment events including music concerts, live performances, theatricals, sports and more, all accomplished at par with global standards. Some of the key properties that BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow, has brought to its markets over the past few years include Lollapalooza India, Backstreet Boys’ DNA World Tour, Post Malone’s debut India show at the Feeding India concert, U2’s The Joshua Tree Tour, NBA’s debut games in India, Disney’s Aladdin, Cirque du Soleil BAZZAR as also international artists such as Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber to name a few.
BookMyShow is invested in providing the best user experience, whether on-ground or online and to that effect, launched BookMyShow Stream, India’s largest home-grown transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) platform hosting award-winning and critically acclaimed content from around the world, complementing its cinemas business. BookMyShow also houses India’s most extensive organic reviews and ratings engine for movies and has driven technology innovations, such as the m-ticket and Movie Mode, impacting tens of millions of users and the industry at large. With continued support from marquee investors like TPG Growth, Stripes Group, Elevation Capital (formerly SAIF Partners), Accel and Network18, BookMyShow has constantly demonstrated category leadership, growing beyond India with operations in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, UAE and Sri Lanka. BookMyShow is also committed to society at large, by way of BookAChange, by BookMyShow Foundation, dedicated to enriching lives through the transformative power of music and the performing arts.
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