iWorld
MTV allows youth to connect with #RockTheVote on Twitter
MUMBAI: With the entire nation under the election fever, MTV has announced a strategic use of the Twitter platform as part of the Hero MTV Rock The Vote initiative to enhance the interactivity and reach of the campaign across youth. A first-of-its kind interactive experience to tap the digital universe, the leading youth brand MTV has launched “Follow the Hashtag” which will allow users of all kinds of devices to listen and engage with the #RockTheVote conversation on Twitter.
This will be the first time this kind of call-to-action innovation will be visible to the audiences globally. Through this feature, the mobile user does not need to be online while listening in to the conversations on #RockTheVote on Twitter. The user can dial 011-30494949 and follow the discussions on #RockTheVote, even while offline. Key tweets and interactions from @MTVIndia on #RockTheVote will be delivered on their phone via an SMS enabled by ZipDial, another strategic technology partner. This underscores MTV’s commitment to encourage every youngster to participate in the campaign and vote in the upcoming elections; and does not limit to their access to internet or expensive phones.
Speaking about the exciting innovation, Sumeli Chatterjee, Head – Marketing & Insights, MTV India said, “MTV Rock the Vote initiative is an interactive campaign that is designed to fuel conversations around elections. And Twitter is one of the leading real-time, interactive information networks in the world. The ‘Follow the Hashtag’ feature will ensure we reach out beyond just the smart phone users…thus allowing the large user base of regular (feature) phones to interact with the Rock The Vote campaign. Starting with crowd-sourced videos from colleges, web series on Funny FAQs on voting, selfies of youth ‘inked’ during election, live tweeting the college concerts, interactive television programming, comic strips and satires…the tongue in cheek messaging of Hero MTV Rock The Vote is naturally integrated with Twitter conversations. This feature phone service will ensure the conversation reaches far and wide across the online and offline youth universe, and hopefully mobilize the eligible new voters to step out and vote.”
Commenting on this innovation, Rishi Jaitly, India Market Director, Twitter said, “Twitter is the world’s leading mobile, real-time information network where users follow, share and experience content that is live, public and conversational. In India, Twitter has brought our users closer to the issues and moments that matter to them, while also enabling them to express their views and participate in real-time. We applaud MTV India for innovating on our platform on the occasion of Rock The Vote and for using Twitter’s unique mobile service to engage its viewers.”
MTV has launched ‘Hero MTV Rock The Vote’ as a non partisan initiative to drive awareness and education of the young generation to vote in upcoming general elections. The campaign objective is to drive conversations around voting and is built on the philosophy that ‘you cannot complain, if you do not vote’. Therefore, it has a huge skew towards the social media and mobile interactions. MTV is also planning to launch hashtag wars on youth issues / voting along with live debates with political spokespersons & election experts leveraging the Twitter platform. Giving this social campaign a humorous skew, the channel has also launched a series of witty videos to capture people’s funny reactions on voting. The web series, ‘Voting FAQs’, captures funny reactions of people to some fun questions asked around the elections. The questions are bold, tricky and most of the times, confusing, thus testing the opponents’ general knowledge while giving you a dose of laughter.
Discuss with MTV about power to vote using #RockTheVote on Twitter or dial 011-30494949 from your mobile to listen in. This election step out and vote!
iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
