iWorld
Singer Sumeet Tappoo bags three awards at third edition of The CLEF Awards
Mumbai: Sumeet Tappoo, Fiji-born, Mumbai-based singer has become the first artist from Fiji to bag a collection of three awards at the third edition of The CLEF Awards in India.
The CLEF Awards, an event by Radioandmusic.com is India’s premier independent music awards function celebrating the excellence of artists in various genres and languages.
Sumeet was nominated in six categories at the awards function out of which he bagged three. Shivohum, a song by Sumeet Tappoo, Prithvi Gandharv and Meenal Jain, won the coveted ‘Song of the Year’ in the general category – a first for a spiritual song to be given this honour as the other nominations were across all genres of music. The second title that Sumeet won was ‘Artist of the Year’ in the Ghazal category. ‘Ghazal of the Year’ was the third award won by Sumeet for his release ‘Ret Ka Ghar’.
Ret Ka Ghar, released in January this year, has been sung by Sumeet, composed by Prithvi Gandharv, penned by Shakeel Azmi and music production by Mir Desai.
The other three nominations for Sumeet included ‘Best Music Video’ for Shivohum – a stunning video shot up in the Himalayas by the young and talented Geetesh Yadav, Parth Dubey & Pratham Chourasiya; ‘Artist of the Year’ in the spiritual category for Sumeet, Prithvi and Meenal for Shivohum; and ‘Ghazal of the Year’ for ‘Jab Bhi Milte Hai’ which features music by Sudeep Banerji.
The third edition of the event was hosted in Mumbai which featured the biggest names in the industry with all the glitz and glamour that an award night has. Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal were also winners amongst a whole host of musical talent from across the nation.
On the recognition, an excited Sumeet Tappoo said, “Receiving six nominations was in itself an honour and I didn’t think I’d be considered for any of them although I’d hoped for one. But to have won three CLEF Awards is such an incredible feeling and a tremendous blessing because that room was buzzing with the best artists in India. I, along with all the artists across India, are truly grateful to radioandmusic.com and CLEF for creating such an incredible platform.”
Lauding his team’s efforts, Sumeet added, “The reality is that winning these awards could not have been possible without my fellow artists who have worked very hard and with a lot of passion. I heartily thank Prithvi Gandharv, Meenal Jain, Geetesh Yadav, Parth Dubey, Pratham Chourasiya, Mir Desai, Sudeep Banerji, Shakeel Azmi, Ajay Sahaab, Paras Nath, Manas Kumar, Prashant Sonagra, and so many more who have been an incredible part of these songs.”
Sumeet dedicated this award to his Sadguru for his blessings and to his mother Maya, father Mahendra, wife Dr Krupali and daughters Saisha and Meera for their sacrifice and constant love and support.
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.
