MAM
China’s Tom Online, Beijing Music Radio enter strategic alliance
MUMBAI: With the coming of the digital entertainment tide, Tom Online Inc., a leading mobile Internet company in China today launched TOMusic Plus, in partnership with Beijing Music Radio which is the flagship music media in China.
The partnership between the two is set to manifest itself through traditional themed products like music releases and entertainment news but formatted in cutting-edge technology, leveraging on Tom Online’s wireless value-added service platform to create a new mobile digital entertainment brand.
Riding on Tom Online’s leading wireless value-added service (VAS) platform, TOMusic Plus is a brand new way to enjoy songs and music for the young and trendy group of music lovers, without compromising intellectual property. With this, not only will users be able to enjoy music more freely, but through this new way of ‘transmitting’ music, a new business model across the industries including Internet, mobile telecommunications, and music media will emerge with TOMusic Plus at the forefront of this value chain innovation, said an official release. Tom Online expects the new service will increase its user base resulting in higher profits for the company.
Through this partnership, TOMusic Plus will allow users to vote for their favorite songs or singers directly from their mobile phone on the China Music Billboard hosted by Beijing Music Radio. Tom Online and Beijing Music Radio believe that through this cooperation, the China Music Billboard will further strengthen its leading position in China’s music industry, broaden music lover’s participation on the billboard, and allow users to interactively participate in the polling process, resulting in the dawn of a new mobile digital entertainment era, the release added.
Commenting on this launch, Tom Online executive director and chief executive officer Wang Leilei stated, “Love for music comes naturally to young people. More and more youngsters are after a more interactive and fresh entertainment experience. TOMusic Plus perfectly satisfies this requirement.”
Reflecting on the potential of this evolving industry, Wang stated, “TOMusic Plus is not only a new form of entertainment evolved under the mobile Internet age, but also an illustration of the bright future for China’s digital entertainment industry, based on the wireless VAS platform. Tom Online is determined to be the leader and pioneer in this industry!”
Beijing Music Radio general manager Shao Jun said, “It has become a trend to integrate the entertainment and Internet industries as their target audiences are becoming the same. Beijing Music Radio has been cooperating with Tom Online in terms of online content services since 2001. Now that we are in closer partnership we are empowered to build a new era in China.”
A series of roadshows will be organised throughout China from 13 May to the end of June aiming to introduce TOMusic Plus services to millions of users across the country, setting the mobile digital entertainment trend in China.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
