Brands
Aoneha Tagore gets into entrepreneurship with Collabor8 launch
Former Spotify India editorial head sets up firm focused on long-term brand and fandom building
MUMBAI: Aoneha Tagore is stepping out of streaming and into entrepreneurship, launching artist management and brand advisory firm Collabor8 with a clear pitch: manage musicians for careers, not just campaigns.
The former head of editorial at Spotify India has positioned the venture as a response to an industry still wired to short-term release cycles even as artists double up as cultural voices and community builders. Founded in late 2025, Collabor8 is built around longer-horizon planning, narrative shaping and career development.
Its offering spans music strategy, public relations, social media, content direction, brand partnerships, monetisation and positioning. The bundle sits under what the firm calls “Music Surround Services”, designed to align creative output with bigger career goals and market positioning.
Tagore brings more than two decades of experience across radio, television and digital. Her track record runs through WorldSpace Satellite Radio, Fever FM, Oye FM, Radio City, 9X Network, MTV and VH1, alongside work on the launch of MTV Beats. Most recently, she oversaw playlist strategy and artist programming at Spotify India during a period of rapid growth for the platform.
At Collabor8, artist management is framed as brand stewardship. The firm says it follows a people-first, insight-led model that privileges narrative clarity, fandom development and durable growth over momentary spikes in visibility. It works with emerging, scaling and established artists, tailoring playbooks to individual ambitions.
The agency has already signed a mix of upcoming and established acts and plans to keep its gaze on career planning beyond conventional release calendars.
Explaining the move, Tagore said:
“Artists today are not just releasing music, they’re shaping culture, building communities and initiating conversations. Yet much of the ecosystem still manages them for the next release or moment. Collabor8 was created to help artists articulate their vision, how they want to be seen, heard and remembered but most importantly, build meaningful narratives around their brand identity. Our focus is on building scale, longevity and fandom for music artists, not fleeting visibility.”
As the artist economy matures, Collabor8 is pitching itself as a partner for strategic, sustainable and authentic careers. The wager is simple: in a crowded market, the artists who last will be those built like brands. Collabor8 wants to be in the engine room when that happens.
Brands
Havells FY26 profit rises to Rs 1,705 crore; revenue tops Rs 22,527 crore
Havells reports electrifying results: Board recommends 600 per cent final dividend
MUMBAI: Strong revenue growth and strategic board appointments highlight a stellar financial year 2025-26
Havells India Limited has concluded the financial year with a powerful performance, sparking a significant payday for its shareholders. Following a board meeting on 22nd April 2026, the electrical equipment major recommended a final dividend of Rs 6 per equity share (600 per cent). When combined with the interim dividend of Rs 4, the total payout for the year reaches an impressive Rs 10 per share.
The audited results for the year ended 31st March 2026 show a company operating at high capacity. Standalone revenue climbed to Rs 22,465.56 crores, up from Rs 21,745.81 crores in the previous year, while on a consolidated basis, revenue reached Rs 22,527.77 crores.
Standalone profit for the year surged to Rs 1,705.42 crores, compared to Rs 1,488.84 crores in FY25, reflecting strong earnings momentum.
The fourth quarter (Q4) contributed Rs 6,687.68 crores in revenue and a net profit of Rs 734.24 crores, underscoring a robust finish to the fiscal year.
Among business segments, the Cables division led the charge with Rs 8,676.70 crores in annual revenue, followed by Electrical Consumer Durables, which recorded Rs 3,874.12 crores.
The company is also refreshing its leadership circuit. Vivek Mehra, an independent director, has stepped down. In a personal letter to the board, Mehra explained that medical advice regarding the “acute pollution” in the National Capital Region (NCR) necessitated his move to the hills of Mukteshwar, making physical attendance at board meetings difficult.
To fill this vacancy, Havells has appointed Varun Berry, the former vice chairman and CEO of Britannia Industries, as an independent director for a five-year term. Furthermore, the board has re-appointed Namrata Kaul and Ashish Bharatram for their second five-year terms.
The year featured several high-value strategic moves. Havells made a substantial Rs 600 crore investment in Goldi Solar Private Limited as part of its renewable energy push.
Following a settlement with the HPL Group, the company secured absolute rights to its trademark, an asset now valued at Rs 129.60 crores. Additionally, the company accounted for a Rs 45.03 crore exceptional liability related to the implementation of New Labour Codes.
With Price Waterhouse & Co re-appointed as statutory auditors for another five-year tenure, Havells appears well-grounded for its next phase of expansion. For investors, the message is clear: the company’s growth trajectory remains as bright as ever.
