Jayesh Veralkar leaves Dolby after 13 years to co-found Vinyl Souk full-time

DUBAI: From cinema screens to vinyl grooves, and no turning back. Jayesh Veralkar has left Dolby after more than 13 years to begin a new chapter as co-founder of Vinyl Souk, the UAE-based culture platform built around independent music, vinyl and the arts. “Today marks the end of an incredible chapter for me,” he said, adding that he is leaving “with immense gratitude for the journey and the learnings”.

The move turns a side project into the main act. “What started as a passion project has grown into something I deeply believe in, and I’m excited to now give it my full energy and see where we can take it,” he said. His full-time role at Vinyl Souk, based in Dubai on a hybrid basis, began in October 2026. “Grateful for everything that brought me here. Excited for what comes next. Onwards,” he signed off.

Jayesh describes his career as one spent working where music, technology, brands and audiences meet. At Dolby, which he joined in August 2013, he was senior marketing manager for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, leading partner marketing across the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye. His job was to translate global priorities into regional launches, partnerships and audience experiences across cinema, consumer entertainment and music. As the regional lead for brand and partner marketing, he was responsible for developing marketing programmes for Dolby-enabled products and experiences through data-driven integrated marketing campaigns, working with cross-functional teams and external agencies.

His proudest line on the Dolby CV is a big one. He successfully launched Dolby Cinema, described as the most advanced and premium cinema experience in the Middle East. Working with exhibition partners, local studios and distributors, he drove preference among moviegoers for the Dolby Cinema experience through a blend of brand and title marketing campaigns, and says he was laser-focused on constantly improving admissions and occupancy. As part of the geo marketing team, he also worked closely with sales and the business group to develop and enable the ecosystem around Dolby’s home entertainment technologies, including Dolby Audio, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The team was tasked with delivering Dolby’s innovation story consistently across all communications.

Vinyl Souk, which he co-founded, is a UAE-based music and culture platform built around discovery, community and independent artists. Through live events, education, a multi-venue festival and Vinyl Souk Records, it has created space for emerging talent, local scenes and audiences to connect. The numbers are healthy for a platform of its kind: since 2023, Vinyl Souk has reached more than 10K attendees through 50+ curated experiences, featuring 240+ regional and international artists. Its work includes Souk Sessions, Souk Lab, the Vinyl Souk Mini Festival and Made in the Emirates, a physical-first compilation series documenting independent music from the UAE.

The roots of this move run deep. Earlier, at Sony Music India, Jayesh established and led an independent music vertical focused on unsigned artists, live programming, talent management and bookings. His profile lists him as label head of DAY 1 (Sony Music Independent Network) at Sony Music Entertainment in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region from August 2008 to August 2013, where he helped the company foray into new music business verticals such as live, talent management and booking to promote emerging and independent talent.

Before that, the path was varied. He was category manager for marketing and sales (BTO procurement services) at IBM from December 2006 to August 2008, interfacing with key marketing and sales stakeholders at Unilever India to fulfil marketing and sales procurement projects, carrying out market research and analysis, and driving procurement projects at a regional level. At Integreon, from October 2005 to December 2006, he was manager, marketing, devising marketing plans and budget allocations with sales leadership, providing direct customer marketing and sales support, establishing marketing metrics to measure return on investment, building thought leadership and share of voice through communications, and managing the website and intranet.

At Star India Pvt Ltd, from November 2004 to October 2005, he was marketing consultant for Channel [V]. He marketed on-air shows and ground events through advertising, ground promotions and public relations, conceptualised on-ground intellectual properties for brand extension, formed strategic alliances with record labels, clubs, hotels and other partners for marketing activations, managed talent including VJs and reality show winners, and ran digital marketing across web and mobile. From February 2002 to November 2004, he was chief strategist at Eventuality Inc., his own entrepreneurial venture into music-focused events and brand activations. There he conceptualised, marketed and produced events and promotions based on client briefs, programmed music and entertainment for hotels, bars and clubs, partnered with record labels for album launches and provided tour management services to local and international DJs and bands, along with client servicing and business development. His career began at EIPR (India) Ltd., from February 2000 to January 2001, in client servicing and business development, coordinating with intelligence and information security groups countrywide to service existing projects.

The analysis is simple. Few marketers can claim to have worked for a multinational technology firm, a major record label, a music channel and their own events company, and few platforms in the Gulf’s music scene can claim a founder who understands all four worlds. Jayesh says he is most interested in work that earns a place in culture rather than simply borrowing from it. That means building through strong local insight, artist trust, thoughtful content and experiences that fans genuinely want to be part of. For Vinyl Souk, his full-time arrival brings corporate discipline and a deep partner network to a scene that thrives on independence. For Jayesh, it is a chance to put 13 years of learning behind a cause he loves. The needle is down, and the record is spinning.