iWorld
MX Player’s Mansi Shrivastav bids adieu to the world
Mumbai: As the world celebrated Christmas and was a jolly environment for many on Sunday, it was not the case for MX Player global content acquisitions & alliances senior vice president Mansi Shrivastav. Little did she know that she would breathe her last on a day that the world rejoices.
Shrivastav was a professional and leader in the media & entertainment space for over two decades, working with MX Player. As senior vice president of content acquisitions, alliances, and distribution at MX Player, she was instrumental in the creation of India’s largest video-on-demand service, which has transformed the current digital landscape by developing first-of-their-kind, ground-breaking, and one-of-a-kind content strategies to expand market size with a robust and diverse content portfolio.
Throughout her career, she also conceptualised and laid the groundwork for some of India’s leading TV channels, including Movies Now, Zoom, Romedy Now, MN+, and Channel V, where she oversaw the programming and content strategies that ensured market leadership in their respective segments.
With her mantra of life being “forget the day’s troubles, remember the day’s blessings—tomorrow is another day,” as Scarlett O’Hara says – Shrivastav was a damsel who lived in the moment.
A girl who loved spending time with her family and friends and was an absolute fan of her mother’s cooking, Shrivastav was strong about great nutrition, long walks, yoga, and meditation, and also had a parallel life interest in watching American reality TV shows and rom-coms.
Shrivastav thought that more kindness would make the world a better place. She was of the view that life is all about balance. “You don’t always need to be getting stuff done. Sometimes it’s perfectly okay and absolutely necessary to shut down, sit back, do nothing, and reset,” she believed.
Here’s hoping she has a great reset, up above.
iWorld
Warner Chappell Music launches India ops, Jay Mehta to lead unit
WMG shifts to direct model, unifying publishing and recorded music
MUMBAI: Warner Chappell Music has officially launched direct operations in India, marking a strategic shift by parent Warner Music Group to deepen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets.
The move replaces the company’s earlier sub-publishing model with a full-fledged, on-ground operation, aimed at giving Indian songwriters stronger access to global networks, rights management tools, and creative infrastructure.
To lead the push, Jay Mehta has been handed an expanded mandate. Already serving as managing director of Warner Music India, Mehta will now oversee both recorded music and publishing across India and neighbouring South Asian markets, effectively bringing the two sides of the business under one roof.
The unified structure is designed to streamline how artists and songwriters work with the company, offering a more integrated ecosystem that spans compositions, recordings, and global distribution.
Warner Music Group managing director, recorded music and publishing, India and SAARC Jay Mehta said, “India’s songwriters are world-class, constantly redefining genres and pushing creative boundaries. By establishing a direct footprint for Warner Chappell, we’re bridging the gap between local brilliance and global opportunity.”
The timing is no coincidence. According to CISAC, creator collections in India jumped 42 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7 billion in 2024, while IFPI ranks India as the 15th largest recorded music market globally. At the same time, the industry is undergoing a structural shift, with independent and non-film music gaining ground over traditional Bollywood soundtracks.
Warner’s bet is that a direct presence will help it capture this changing dynamic. The company is also offering India-based creators access to its proprietary tools, including AI-powered royalty matching systems and real-time analytics platforms, aimed at improving transparency and earnings visibility.
Warner Chappell Music co-chair and CEO Guy Moot said the move is about shaping a publishing ecosystem that “works for creators and ensures their music is heard, protected, and rewarded everywhere.”
Meanwhile, Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl underlined India’s importance to the company’s global strategy, noting that the new structure creates a “unified powerhouse” for both creators and audiences.
With local studios, global reach, and tighter integration across its business lines, Warner is clearly doubling down on India. And as streaming habits evolve and independent music rises, the company is positioning itself to be not just a participant, but a key architect of the country’s next music chapter.
