The Music Academy Madras (MAM) database offers a unique window into the content and performance practices of Carnatic music concerts during the annual music festival held at MAM from 1935 to 2019.
Being one of the earliest music organizations in South India, the Academy has played a pivotal role in the promotion of Carnatic music. This valuable information was compiled from the Music Conference Souvenir, a festival program published by MAM. It includes details such as the date and time of each concert, the names of the performers, the genres and compositions performed, the names of composers, and the specific raga and tala used for each piece. Such data is exceptionally rare because, in the Carnatic music tradition, it's not customary to provide a printed program to the audience in advance. Consequently, there is virtually no consistent record available anywhere else that documents what was performed during the concerts.