iWorld
Artist Aloud Forays Into Original Content beyond Music
MUMBAI: Artist Aloud, a platform by Hungama that supports and promotes independent music, today announced its foray into original content beyond music. With this, Artist Aloud will now support non-music independent artists as well and help with creating and promoting their content. As a part of the expansion, Artist Aloud will launch its first show – The Ajay Gehi Show. Starring the talented and popular actor, Ajay Gehi, the series will be an anecdotal comedy and feature monologues delivered by him. The show will be available on the Artist Aloud app, Hungama Play and Artist Aloud’s social platforms starting 15th June 2018, with a new episode releasing every Friday.
The first season of the show will consist of 14 episodes with each not exceeding 10 minutes of runtime. Produced by Artist Aloud and written, directed& performed by Ajay Gehi, the acts will be based on relatable situations that Ajay has observed in his day-to-day life. From people’s behavior at airports and the peculiar traits of the selfie generation to the tough process of making decisions and the scenes witnessed at weddings, Ajay Gehi will deliver his jocular take on commonplace scenarios.
Commenting on the foray into non-music content, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., Vice President, Artist Aloud, Soumini Sridhara Paul said, “Since our launch almost a decade ago, we have endeavored to build a platform that enables independent musicians to get the recognition they deserve. Through the years, Artist Aloud has become synonymous with independent music. With the recent development, we are glad to make Artist Aloud a holistic platform for independent artists across the talent spectrum. Our aim is to provide a stage to gifted artists and help them showcase their talent, whether it is singing, comedy, poetry or anything else. Our new offerings will also enrich the user experience by giving them a wide array of content to explore and consume.”
Commenting on the launch of his show, Ajay Gehi said, “The Ajay Gehi Show is a humorous take on situations that generally go unnoticed in our fast-paced lives. These moments would otherwise provide the much-needed cheer and relief that we need every day. Through the show, I intend to give the audience a break from the monotony of life and give them a reason to laugh while making them think. I am glad that Artist Aloud gave me an opportunity to explore the anecdotal comedy genre. Their unmatched expertise and reach in the digital domain will help in ensuring that the show gets a wide release.”
Artist Aloud will release a new episode of The Ajay Gehi Show every Friday, starting 15th June 2018. Viewers can tune in on the Artist Aloud App, Hungama Play, Artist Aloud’s YouTube channel and Facebook page to watch the show.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
