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Photo Credit: Warner Chappell Music India<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Music Warner Chappell Music launches in India, with Jay Mehta appointed to lead the charge in one of the world\u2019s fastest-growing creative economies.<\/h2>\n
Warner Chappell Music (WCM), the global publishing arm of Warner Music Group (WMG), has announced its launch in India in a strategic move that marks a transition from its previous sub-publishing model. Now, with a full-scale, direct-to-market presence, WCM offers Indian songwriters expanded access to the company\u2019s global infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Jay Mehta, who has served as Managing Director of Warner Music India since its launch in 2020, has been appointed to lead the new division. In this expanded role, Mehta will oversee both recorded music and publishing operations in India and neighboring South Asian markets. WMG says this unified leadership structure will allow the company to provide a \u201cseamless, holistic ecosystem for creators.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mehta will report jointly to Guy Moot, Co-Chair and CEO of Warner Chappell Music, and Lo Ting-Fai (Lofai), President, Warner Music APAC.<\/p>\n
The launch arrives at a pivotal moment<\/a> for the Indian music economy. According to recent CISAC data<\/a>, domestic creator collections surged to \u20b97 billion ($75 million) in 2024\u2014a 42% year-on-year increase. India now ranks as the world\u2019s 15th largest recorded music market, according to the global trade body IFPI<\/a>.<\/p>\n To that end, WCM India songwriters will have access to the state-of-the-art studios within the company\u2019s Mumbai headquarters. Crucially, WMG remains the only major music company in India to offer a localized, creative hub of this caliber.<\/p>\n Indian songwriters and catalog partners will also have full access to WCM\u2019s proprietary tech and admin infrastructure, including Global Match, WCM\u2019s AI-driven royalty matching tool. This also includes the Client Portal for real-time visibility into earnings and catalog performance, and Pulse, WCM\u2019s client app developed in partnership with songwriters.<\/p>\n \u201cIndia\u2019s songwriters are world-class, constantly redefining genres and pushing creative boundaries. By establishing a direct footprint for Warner Chappell, we\u2019re bridging the gap between local brilliance and global opportunity,\u201d said Jay Mehta, Managing Director, Recorded Music and Publishing, India and SAARC, WMG. \u201cWe\u2019re now positioned to offer Indian creators the sophisticated resources and international reach that only a world-leading publisher can provide, ensuring their music resonates on a global stage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndia is a key part of our global growth strategy, and the talent emerging there is truly world-class,\u201d concluded Robert Kyncl, CEO of WMG. \u201cBy bringing our publishing and recorded music operations under Jay Mehta\u2019s proven leadership, we\u2019re creating a unified powerhouse that can better serve creators and fans alike. This is the right moment to double down on our investment in India\u2019s vibrant creative economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\nThe country\u2019s domestic music landscape is diversifying; while Bollywood soundtracks once represented 80% of digital consumption, they now account for less than half, as independent and non-film music takes the spotlight. Domestic repertoire accounts for 89% of all music streaming in the country, at a time when the format is shifting from an advertising-supported basis to a paid subscription model.<\/h4>\n
\u201cIndia has some of the most talented songwriters in the world, and they are increasingly making their mark globally,\u201d added Guy Moot, Co-Chair and CEO, and Carianne Marshall, Co-Chair and COO of Warner Chappell Music. \u201cWhat excites us most about this move is not just the expansion of our presence, but the opportunity to help shape an evolving publishing ecosystem that truly works for creators and ensures their music is heard, protected, and rewarded everywhere. With Jay Mehta at the helm and our global team behind him, our songwriters couldn\u2019t be in better hands.\u201d<\/h4>\n