India is the 15th largest music market in the world, according to IFPI.
Warner Music Group continues its global expansion with the launch of a new subsidiary in India.
Warner Music India to be Led by Music Director Jay Mehta, who will take over as general manager in April. Mehta is from Sony Music India, where he was director of digital affairs; before that, he held positions at Reliance Broadcast Network and the telecommunications company UNINOT.
In his new role based in Mumbai, Mehta will also cover the remaining markets of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He will report to Alfonso Perez-Soto, Executive Vice President of Warner Music Group, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and India.
“Music is a way of life here in India, a precious pillar of our culture,” said Mehta. “There are so many talent hungry for opportunity, and I look forward to signing and serving a wide variety of local art. The growing music audience in India will also benefit from this decision, as we are not only amplifying our new rising stars, but also Warner’s global superstars. ”
Perez-Soto added: “With a dynamic and vibrant music scene, India is a natural place for Warner to increase its presence. It is a market that increasingly embraces the international repertoire and develops its own music scene beyond the traditional domination of Bollywood. Jay is a brilliant creative and commercial leader and we are all eager to support him and his team as he leads our efforts in this growing region. “
India is the 15th largest music market in the world, according to IFPI, with a population of over 1.3 billion. Streaming revenues represented 69.7% of the total music market in India in 2018, also reports IFPI.
Over the past year, Warner Music Group has also opened new offices in Turkey and Peru, acquired labels including Finnish Monsp and Slovak Forza, and announced a partnership with the independent record label Nigerian Chocolate City.
