Deborah Smith Joins Hoopr To Drive International Licensing And Sync Growth

Hoopr, India’s leading music licensing platform, has appointed Deborah Smith as Head of International Licensing & Sync, marking a major milestone in its global growth journey. Based in the UK, Smith will spearhead Hoopr’s international expansion,driving strategic partnerships with global labels, strengthening cross-border sync opportunities, and building a world-class catalogue that connects Indian and international music markets. This move reinforces Hoopr’s vision to position India at the forefront of the global music licensing and sync economy.

In her new role, Smith will lead Hoopr’s global outreach, bringing its curated catalogue of over 22,000 Bollywood, Indie, and Regional tracks to brands, agencies, and production houses worldwide. Hoopr’s self-serve platform, Hoopr Smash, has already paved the way for this expansion through collaborations with marquee labels like Yash Raj Films Music, Merchant Records, and Turnkey Music, making Indian music legally accessible for brand use at scale for the first time. Strengthened by its partnership with IPRS (Indian Performing Rights Society) to ensure fair artist remuneration, Hoopr is building the first truly cross-border platform that connects artists, labels, and brands through technology, creativity, and compliance, enabling Indian music to travel without boundaries.

Speaking on her appointment, Deborah Smith said,“Hoopr sits at the intersection of creativity, technology, and opportunity. Having worked in India for over eight years, I deeply value its rich music culture. Hoopr’s mission, to empower creators and brands with music that is both local and globally appealing ,resonates with me. My focus will be on expanding our global footprint, forging strong partnerships, and bringing the sound of India to audiences worldwide.”

Gaurav Dagaonkar, Co-Founder & CEO of Hoopr, added,“Deborah’s arrival marks a defining moment in Hoopr’s journey toward global leadership in music licensing. With her deep expertise in international publishing and sync, we’re ready to accelerate global expansion, strengthen partnerships, and unlock new revenue for our artists, taking Indian music to the world with greater scale and ambition.”

With over 13 years of global music industry experience, Smith is a respected voice in publishing and sync. As Director of Publishing at Horus Music and Co-Founder of Anara Publishing, she built global alliances, managed 40+ acclaimed composers, and secured syncs with brands like Apple, UEFA, Asian Paints, Netflix, and Hulu. A long-time supporter of India’s independent scene, she has championed talents such as Kavya Trehan, Swarathma, Tejas Menon, Siddharth Basrur, Dualist Inquiry, and Zoya.

With Deborah’s appointment, Hoopr strengthens its vision of becoming a global, artist-first ecosystem, uniting cultures, creators, and brands through the universal language of music.