GECs
Digital Music Group announces music content acquisitions
MUMBAI: Digital Music Group Inc. (DMGI) a content owner and distributor of digital music and video recordings, has announced three long-term and four short-term distribution agreements with a number of independent record labels totaling over 5,000 audio tracks. Under the terms of the agreements signed with each company, DMGI will distribute these music catalogs to online music stores worldwide.
DMGI chief executive officer Mitchell Koulouris said, “Digital Music Group continues to build its music catalog with world-class content.The transactions that have been announced underscore our continued commitment to expanding our catalog with high-quality repertoire from the world’s best independent labels.”
The three new music catalogs under long-term distribution agreements include:
– Music for Little People, which is a children’s music label designed for people turned off by standard commercial kiddie fare, with children’s albums that feature such artists as Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, Los Lobos, and many others.
– DM Records which features the catalog of Ichiban Records, an Atlanta-based label and also includes alternative rock labels Sky and Naked Language, with such acts as Pylon, The Swans, Moe Tucker and whip-hop label WRAP, which features MC Breed, DJ Smurf, Treacherous Three and more.
– The Cryptic Corporation which contains a number of audio and visual recordings by noted avant-garde band The Residents. It features Residents classics such as Fingerprince, Our Finest Flowers, The King & Eye and Wormwood Live. Also featured in the catalog are numerous music videos including versions of Wormwood Live, Eskimo and dozens of Residents classic tracks, informs an official release.
DMGI has also announced the signing of four new independent labels to short-term distribution agreements through its subsidiary, Digital Rights Agency (DRA). The labels signed to new short-term distribution agreements include:
– DRT Entertainment which is an independent record label founded in 2003 by Derek Shulman, Ron Urban and Theodore Green. DRT’s artist roster includes: Artimus Pyledriver, Blindside, Clutch,The Rasmus and many more. The label also re-masters and re-releases older material from their artists. Last year, they re-released 35 Anniversary editions of many albums by Shulman’s former band, Gentle Giant.
– ProgRock Records roster includes new, developing artists as well as established artists, including Planet P (featuring Tony Carey), Oliver Wakeman (son of Yes’ Rick Wakeman), Ajalon, and Erik Norlander.
– Takeover Records, formed by the members of the multi-platinum band, Yellowcard, Takeover Records is an alternative/punk rock label based in Long Beach, California. Takeover Records features albums from such alt-rock stalwarts as Yellowcard, Hey Mike and Bracket.
– FILMguerrero, formed by John Askew in the late 1990’s as a means to release the music of his friends and close associates, adds the release.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
