Sony Music Entertainment Buys Strategic Stake in Infibeam Digital Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (INDENT)

Infibeam Incorporation Pvt Ltd (Infibeam) and global music giant Sony Music Entertainment have announced a definitive agreement, where in Sony Music has bought strategic stake in Infibeam Digital Entertainment (P) Ltd (INDENT). Under this agreement, Infibeam will hold majority stake in the Company and Sony Music will hold a 26% stake post completion of transaction. Indent with its clear strategic focus will offer an attractive platform to large and medium music labels in India and International. Any music label or brand holding rights to content can use the Indent platform to engage customers and monetize by distributing digital as well as physical content under their own brand with payment integrations.

Commenting on the same, Shridhar Subramaniam President India and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment said, "Indent fills a need gap for all Music rights owners. As the digital eco system keeps evolving, there has been a strong need for an independent technology company that music companies can partner with to build innovative services and offerings. Every content owner has aspirations to reach consumers and brands directly, Indent empowers these labels with a scalable and commerce ready platform."

On this occasion Vishal Mehta, Founder & CEO Infibeam shared that 'INDENT' continues to build state-of-the-art inclusive digital platforms powering music applications installed on millions of mobile phones and providing high quality experience to music lovers. Indent will enable brands, technology and music on common interface with innovative customer engagement models".

+Sony Music India is one of the largest and most integrated music companies in India owning digital music content rights with highly sophisticated marketing and distribution channels. Last year, Sony Music partnered with the new range of Sony Xperia Smartphones to launch 'Sony Music Jive' - a first of its kind music service that allows consumers to download and stream music from the Sony Music Catalog of 2 million songs. Jive is powered by INDENT's Music platform. Post the successful launch of the Jive application on the Xperia smartphones in India, the same application was launched in Indonesia, North Africa and Middle East markets. The service was also extended to Sony VAIO laptops in 2013.

With large repository of music content, INDENT will continue developing applications for many large labels and brands with integrated Telco billing, OEM bundling and Social platforms. Currently, INDENT offers its service to SONY Music, INRECO (The Indian Record Manufacturing Company Ltd), to name a few. Indent is projecting revenues of $3-5mm in current year.

About Infibeam: 

+Infibeam Inc is leading ecommerce technology company, recognized for its innovative approach towards delivering business values and responsive to changing customer needs. Infibeam today is trusted name in ecommerce technology platform services and a partner of choice for global business. Infibeam's retail platform offers more than one crore retail products and 50 lakh visits per month by Indians online. The company endeavors to maintain lowest prices for consumer and trusted merchant selling quality products on Infibeam (www.infibeam.com) in categories like Books, Movies, Music, Mobiles, Electronic, Gadgets & Computers, apparel, Jewellery, footwear, home furnishing & decor, toys & baby care, Auto accessories, wellness & health care and many more. As a part of business offerings Infibeam also provides B2B enterprise platform www.buildabazaar.com, enabling SMEs and retail brands to host their online store.

About Sony Music:
Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a current roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre and artists like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Santana, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Ke$ha, Avril Lavigne, Shakira, Kings of Leon, Hurts, Foo Fighters, Pink, The Script to name a few.

A wholly owned subsidiary of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INDIA, boasts of an extensive catalogue that comprises of some of the most legendary recordings in history and is home to renowned and celebrated artists and several iconic Bollywood Film soundtracks.

For publishing, Sony Music India has a tie up with Sony/ATV wherein Sony/ATV exploits and manages Sony Music India's publishing works overseas, likewise, Sony Music India manages Sony/ATV's International works across four countries - India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

In 2013, Sony Music Entertainment India and Warner Music Group announced a strategic licence deal for Sony Music to represent Warner Music's legendary recording artists' releases and labels in India, Sri Lanka and the other SAARC countries.

Shaili Chopra on Effects of Social Media on Politics

Shaili Chopra

A keen watcher of social media, a golf aficionado and now a writer of a popular book The Big Connect - Shaili Chopra dons many hats during her career in journalism. Winner of The Ramnath Goenka Award, Shaili believes that as journalist, one just can't have a laid-back attitude; rather, a journalist has to be a reporter chasing big stories. She regularly contributes articles on golf and thinks that "the sport deserves tremendous attention as it loses out to cricket". In a conversation with Infibeam, Shaili opens up about her book The Big Connect, her ideas over use of social media in politics and her newly found love for poetry. Read on...

Que: You have been into journalism for a long time. What made you to write a book?

Shaili Chopra: I am a keen watcher of social media. I walked into a store to fetch a book on the subject but i couldn't find one. I was surprised that something that topical, that interesting and so with-the-times was missing a full documented discourse. This led me to think about a book.

Que: You write a special blog on Golf, any specific reason?

Shaili Chopra: I have a few passions and golf is one of them. I believe the sport deserve tremendous attention as it loses out to cricket. It's brilliant sport and can be developed in our country in a big way. I grew up playing it. It's an intelligent sport, needs strategy, mind application and more.

Que: You have received one of the biggest awards The Ramnath Goenka Award- How did you feel receiving it?

Shaili Chopra with her book "The Big Connect"

Shaili Chopra: It was the most special honour for me. I believe as a journalist you cant just be news reader, you have to be a reporter, chase big stories, report on them, do interviews and ask in-depth questions. I was very grateful for the award as it recognised the reporter in me. 

Que: Your list of awards is not ending. FICCI has also awarded you with Young Women's Achiever Award for contribution to media. What was the feeling at that time?

Shaili Chopra: FICCI is A very reputed body and recognises rare talent. I was happy to receive this award with the likes of Vidya Balan, Mary Kom - it meant A lot.

Que: The Big Connect is related to the effect of Social Media on Politics. Do you really Feel that SM will effect Politics in future too?

Shaili Chopra: Yes I believe so. That so-me is now a part of our lives is something reflected in the amount of time Indians are spending online. I think it speaks volumes that we are partially governed today not by our time but our timelines. Our views are a confluence of people we speak to, our friends, our social media space.

Que: Do you plan to write more books? And what will be your subject this time?

Shaili Chopra: I have a couple of them in the pipeline. I will be able to share more details with time.

Que: You have interviewed many Big Shots across the world. Is there any specific person you want to interview and have not got a chance to?

Shaili Chopra: Yes, Tiger Woods. I think he is not only the biggest sportsperson in the world but he also has a discerning business sense. Business + Sport would be a great subject for me to connect with him on.

Que: You like writing poetry too, what kind of poetry you like to write?

Shaili Chopra: I write rhyming poems for children, other kinds for myself. It's not for public consumption but a person passion.