01/06/2026
Today it's the birthday of the Shining Music brand, which has evolved into something much bigger. Shining Music Group is the result of 15 years of pouring my heart and soul into my work. I started back when not many people in Ukraine were thinking about the development of Ukrainian independent music, when few were actually doing it. And all this time, I've been building an infrastructure that today allows authors and performers to benefit from the best international expertise. I created all of this in Zaporizhzhia — in my hometown, the cradle of the Cossacks — because I believed that my region deserved to have something that had never existed here before.
For me, it all began in childhood, at music school: with composition and piano. Then came my home project studio (2008) and the first mention of Shining Music (2010), followed by the brand’s official launch on June 1, 2011. That’s when my first music releases came out in Brazil, United States, and Australia (2012–2014).
Later, I studied in San Francisco (2014) under the renowned Peter Miller (Big Boy Pete) and received a diploma in music production and sound engineering.
This inspired me to transform Shining Music into an indie label (2015) to popularize streaming. Already at that time, I had a sense that this is the way of the future, so I was one of the first to push for it alongside CD pressing and live performances. Next, I opened one of the largest studios in Ukraine (2016) to meet my own and the artists' needs. The education I received during that time in tourism and mass communications came in very handy, as I put my knowledge of management and social media into practice.
2020 was also a busy year. Experimentation, growth — as a team, we gained 13 million followers for DANIM on TikTok, which at this point was a success only a small number of people on the platform had achieved. Our venture turned out to be a real triumph. That same year, I began collaborating with Snapchat as a producer. And, of course, my company became the first in Ukraine to offer production services with flexible payment plans through PrivatBank and Monobank.
In the terrible year 2022, I stepped up my ongoing support for the military and veterans, providing them with even more assistance through music therapy. That same year, my music became part of the Diia service. Later came several important and well-known projects, as well as a shift in my work focus (2024): from targeted collaboration with specific artists in a 360 format to management, distribution, and promotion for a wider range of artists. At the same time, I was studying and building infrastructure in the area of publishing, rather than basic copyright administration.
The year 2025 was marked by my contribution to the compilation by Cultural Forces, about infantry, and fundamental work with Yevshan-Zillia, the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, and the Huliaipole Antiquities on the revival, notation, and recording of the folk heritage of Zaporizhzhia musical folklore.
And here we are — June 1, 2026. On this day, Shining Music officially becomes a whole Group. Over the past 15 years, my home studio has evolved into an international creative ecosystem. It is almost a corporation now, which includes a full-cycle music production studio, a publisher, and a label. In the area of copyrights and neighboring rights, our trusted partners have become global leaders such as American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP), SESAC Music Group, and Create Music Group, who also assist with SoundExchange and Lime Blue.
At the same time, I participate in international events as a researcher, have published a dozen academic papers, and have even joined a project under the Erasmus+ program. I know that my knowledge, experience, and expertise are unique not only for Ukraine but also for other countries. I strive to ensure that the experience I’ve gained translates into support for anyone who wants to transform their relationship with music, anywhere in the world.
Thank you to everyone who stands with me, who is interested, and who wants to grow together.
Thank you to each and every one of you for your trust — it has always been my greatest motivation to keep moving forward.
My respect goes out to everyone who makes this journey easier.
And to those who see competition in me — thank you to you as well. This only confirms that I am moving at the speed of light in the right direction.
With warmest regards,
Ilkaiev Oleksandr
Shining Music Group
