MAM
Sony Pictures Networks India partners with The Indian Performing Right Society
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), has entered into a licensing agreement with The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), thereby being able to mine the IPRS music bank for its broadcast and digital business verticals in India.
With access to music comprising millions of works from authors, composers and music publishers, SPN has taken the lead in promoting an organized music licensing industry in the country.
The IPRS is India’s only copyright society, registered under the Copyright Act of 1957, authorized to carry out the copyright business for musical and literary works (lyrics), associated with members comprising authors (lyricists), music composers and music publishers.
Sony Pictures Networks India general counsel Ashok Nambissan said, “With this licensing agreement, we fortify our endeavor to remain a
network of choice for the creative workforce in our country.”
IPRS chairman Javed Akhtar said “This is welcome news. I would like to congratulate both SPN and IPRS for working collaboratively. The creative community welcomes Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) to IPRS as a licensee and I look forward to this relationship being
strengthened further.”
IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam adds “We welcome Sony Pictures Networks India into the IPRS family of licensees. We are excited about our new partnership. We commend SPN’s mature approach to doing business and look forward to a successful partnership. IPRS is committed to working
cooperatively and closely with its licensee partners, their continued success is important for IPRS and all its members.”
Digital
Anthropic eyes $900bn valuation in new funding round ahead of IPO: Reports
Claude maker may surpass OpenAI as investor interest heats up sharply
SAN FRANCISCO: Anthropic is exploring a fresh funding round that could value the company at more than $900 billion, potentially making it the world’s most valuable artificial intelligence startup, according to Bloomberg reports.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg News reported that the Claude maker is in early-stage discussions with investors and is entertaining offers at more than double its current valuation. No deal has been finalised yet.
The interest marks a sharp jump from February this year, when Anthropic raised $30 billion at a valuation of $380 billion. Since then, investor appetite appears to have intensified, with multiple pre-emptive offers on the table.
According to TechCrunch, the company has received proposals to raise around $50 billion at valuations ranging between $850 billion and $900 billion. A decision is expected to be taken at a board meeting in May.
If the deal goes through at the upper end of that range, Anthropic would overtake OpenAI, which was valued at $852 billion in March, to become the most valuable AI startup globally.
The potential fundraise also comes against the backdrop of a possible initial public offering, which could be launched as early as October, the Bloomberg report noted.
The company counts tech heavyweights such as Amazon and Google, part of Alphabet, among its key backers. Both firms have continued to deepen their ties with Anthropic through multi-billion-dollar, performance-linked investments.
Interestingly, earlier reports had suggested that Anthropic was cautious about raising funds at valuations of $800 billion or more. The latest developments, however, indicate that market enthusiasm for advanced AI models and infrastructure may be shifting those thresholds quickly.
As the race for AI dominance accelerates, Anthropic’s next move could set a new benchmark for startup valuations, and signal just how high investors are willing to bet on the future of artificial intelligence.
