MAM
Guitar maestro Joe Satriani performs in India this month
MUMBAI: After the Sultan of Swing Mark Knopfler it is now the turn of another guitar legend Joe Satriani to take India by storm. Satriani will perform in Mumbai at the MMRDA Grounds on 13 May, in Kolkata on 15 May and in Bangalore at the Palace Grounds on 17 May 2005.
Fans can buy tickets from any Planet M outlet. They can also log on to www.concerts.indiatimes.com. For bulk inquiries they can send an email to info@opiumevents.com. VHI is the channel partner for the event. The channel will show clips of the concert as well as interview clips with Satriani.
This will be Satriani’s first visit to India and he is indeed very excited. He says, “India is a country of music lovers and I have always wanted to play here. I am waiting to meet all my fans in India at my concert.”
Satriani is one of the most technically accomplished and widely respected guitarists to emerge in recent times. Amongst his million’s of fans are actors Saif Ali Khan and John Abraham, ad man Prahlad Kakar and model Marc Robinson.
Satriani who is known as the God of Guitar taught Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde (Primus) , David Bryson (Counting Crows) and jazz- fusion player Charlie Hunter. Satriani still remains head and shoulders above most guitar gods through sheer good taste.
Born in 1956 Satriani was inspired by Guitar legend Jimmy Hendrix. He picked up the guitar at the age of 14 although he was initially more interested in the drums. His first full –length solo albumNot of this Earth made ripples in the rock guitar community.
Some of his other hits include Surfing With the Alien, Flying in a Blue Dream, One Big Rush, The Extremist and the Grammy nominated Engines of Creation which many say is his most daring creation ever.
MAM
Ad:tech honours 2026: Full list of winners announced
Expanded awards spotlight winners across 22 categories as industry doubles down on intelligent automation
NEW DELHI: Marketing’s tech elite took the spotlight as the ad:tech honours 2026 returned with a sharper focus on AI, data and immersive media, signalling how deeply technology now underpins brand strategy. Held at Yashobhoomi on March 17, the second edition drew industry leaders to celebrate innovation that is reshaping engagement and performance.
Presented with the International Advertising Association India chapter and new partner Huella, the awards expanded from 8 to 22 categories, tracking the rapid convergence of creativity, automation and analytics.
The winners’ list reads like a snapshot of marketing’s future. In affiliate and partner marketing, Lyxel & Flamingo – Boat and Paytm Ads – Giva took silver. Mobavenue Media Private Limited struck gold in AI-driven dynamic creative optimisation, alongside a silver for Laqshya Media Limited.
Creative AI collaboration saw Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited win gold, with Saltinc Consulting Private Limited securing silver. Laqshya Media Limited continued its strong run, taking gold in AI conversation agents and adding multiple wins across categories, including silver in GenAI-led creative and both gold and silver in interactive DOOH campaigns for Tanishq and Tata Coffee.
Predictive AI honours went to Strong Metrics and Tyroo, both silver, while Orient Bell Limited picked up silver in immersive retail tech. In GenAI-led creative, Laqshya Media Limited, Salt – Kotak and Sumimoto each secured silver, reflecting the crowded race in generative creativity.
Publicis bagged silver in influencer management and gold in performance marketing, where it shared the stage with Arm Worldwide and The Trade Desk, both silver. Glad U Came Private Limited stood out with gold in influencer measurement and analytics.
Marketing automation saw CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. and Globale Media win silver, while ADMOTT Private Limited claimed silver in OTT innovation.
Programmatic media categories highlighted the shift to advanced targeting and connected screens. Mobavenue Media Private Limited clinched gold in connected TV advertising, with Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd – Asus and Lyxel and Flamingo taking silver. Cheggout Services Private Limited won silver in retail media advertising, while Paytm Ads – Versuni secured gold.
On social platforms, Vayner Media India took gold in community and UGC engagement, with Under 25 – Oppo winning silver. Segumento rounded off the list with silver in the innovation category.
Jaswant Singh, country managing director at ad:tech India, underscored the momentum, saying generative AI and data-driven decision-making are now central to marketing impact. Neena Dasgupta, IAA mancom member and chief executive and founder at The Salt Inc Consulting, added that the awards celebrate not just technology, but “the people, the creativity, and the relentless effort behind it.”
Backed by Comexposium Group, ad:tech New Delhi has long tracked digital disruption. Now, with the honours, it is rewarding those who are not just adapting to change but engineering it.
In an industry racing towards automation, the message from 2026 is unmistakable. The future of marketing will be written not just in ideas, but in algorithms.
