The Music Industry in India is going through multiple revamps, renews and changes. These processes started mid-2017 and have only been for the good of the rapidly growing industry. Streaming has become more and more prominent in India with after the confirmed Indian launch of Spotify the global streaming leaders (
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Saavn and Jio Music announced their behemoth merger leaving Reliance Industries Limited with 81.7% stake in Saavn India. Jio Music is another venue of RIL. The combined entity is valued at over US$1 billion, with JioMusic’s implied valuation at US$ 670 million. The integrated business will be developed into a media platform of the future with global reach, cross-border original content, an independent artist marketplace, consolidated data and one of the largest mobile advertising mediums.
Reliance will also invest up to Rupee equivalent of US$100 million, out of which Rupee equivalent of US$20 million will be invested upfront, for growth and expansion of the platform into one of the largest streaming services in the world. While Saavn and Jio Music has not clarified the status and minute details of their $1 billion valuation merger. Multiple sources confirmed that the company is set to announce that former PPL CEO, Vipul Pradhan is likely to take the Jio Music leadership role. Vipul Pradhan's last gig was as CEO of Phonographic Digital Limited (PDL).
Almost unnoticed, the new organisation PDL cropped up to license and collect fees from the various telcos and streaming services. This was incorporated in March 2017, just as the financial year was coming to a close Their registered office is in Kolkata. Initially, this came under the umbrella duties of the PPL. The PPL will continue as in the past to be a collection organization for the public performance of sound recordings from establishments, events and radio.
After holding the post of the CEO for PPL and PDL. Pradhan definitely looks like a perfect contender to hold the Jio Music office. His experience of more than 30 years, with more than 20 years as the profit center head adds to his credibility to take over one of the biggest music streaming collaborations. Vipul Pradhan has handled different facets of media - Rural, Outdoor, Print, Television, Radio and online. He has demonstrated history of working in the music industry specially in the areas of Digital Strategy, Mobile Advertising, Music Publishing, Music Management, and Mobile Content.