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.
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
