iWorld
India flatten New Zealand to clinch T20 World Cup in record-breaking tournament
Suryakumar Yadav’s men deliver a masterclass as the sub-continent goes cricket mad
MUMBAI: India did not merely win the T20 World Cup. They demolished their opposition. A hapless New Zealand, thrashed by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — packed to its 120,000-capacity rafters — were left shellshocked as captain Suryakumar Yadav lifted the ICC Trophy aloft to a roar that seemed to shake the sub-continent itself.
It was, by any measure, a rout. New Zealand had no answers. India had all of them.
Off the field, the numbers were just as staggering. The tournament, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, drew an attendance of 1.2m across its various venues — a record for any World Cup competition. Harsha Bhogle, cricket’s most mellifluous voice, announced the milestone during the presentation ceremony with the relish of a man who knew he was narrating history.
The digital stands were even more heaving. JioHotstar, the tournament’s streaming partner, clocked 72 million concurrent streams during the competition. The final alone racked up 800m views on the platform — a number that makes most streaming executives weep with envy and most advertisers reach instinctively for their chequebooks.
Cricket, it turns out, does not merely survive on the sub-continent. It swallows it whole.
For New Zealand, there is the long flight home and the longer memory of a mauling. For India, there is a trophy, a record, and the certain knowledge that when it comes to T20 cricket, they are not just the best team in the world — they are in a different game entirely.
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.
