iWorld
FIFS announces 4th edition of the GamePlan conference
Mumbai: Fantasy sports self-regulatory industry body, the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), has announced the fourth edition of its Annual Conference – GamePlan 2021, to be held virtually on 25 August. The event will witness the launch of an industry report on online fantasy sports (OFS), ‘Online Fantasy Sports: Creating a Virtuous Cycle of Sports Development’ along with in-depth discussions on the growth, impact, and potential of the industry.
GamePlan 2021 will include keynotes by UP Law Commission, chairman, justice AN Mittal; Government of Telangana, Industries and Commerce (IandC) and Information Technology, principal secretary, Jayesh Ranjan; Invest India, MD & CEO, Deepak Bagla and justice (retd) Arjan Sikri.
The conference will host a ‘CEO Roundtable on leadership Lessons from Founders’ with Dream11 and Dream Sports, co-founder & CEO, Harsh Jain; MPL, co-founder & CEO, Sai Srinivas; Games 24×7, co-founder & CEO, Bhavin Pandya, and MyTeam11, co-founder & CEO, Vinit Godara.
Besides the report launch and keynotes, there will also be three panel discussions on ‘The Economic Impact of OFS in India’, ‘Fantasy Sports: Fuelling Sports Consumption and Fan Engagement’, and ‘The Evolving Legal Landscape of Fantasy Sports in India’.
Among the eminent dignitaries speaking at the event are Dream11 and Dream Sports, COO & co-founder, Bhavit Sheth; Indian quizzer, orator, writer, sports producer and VP at Baseline Ventures India Pvt Ltd, Joy Bhattacharya; ITW Mediaworx, managing partner & CEO, Nikhil Vyas; NBA India, AVP-global partnerships, Siddharth Chury; Gameplan Sports, MD, Jeet Banerjee; enJogo, co-founder & CEO, Kishore Taid; Supreme Court of India, senior advocate, Gopal Jain, and Saraf & Partners, partner, Vaibhav Kakkar.
The panel discussions will be moderated by Ninanand Mathew, founding partner, Santosh Mathew; TMT Consulting, Deloitte, partner, Prashant Rao; Deal Advisory, partner and KPMG India, head – media and entertainment, Girish Menon; IndiaTech.org, president and CEO, Rameesh Kailasam, and LawNK, principal lawyer, Nandan Kamath.
Commenting on the announcement of the new edition, FIFS and FSRA, and former CIC, Govt of India, chairman, Bimal Julka said, “We are delighted to be back with the fourth edition of GamePlan where, together, we will deliberate on the impact and potential of the Online Fantasy Sports industry. With the right guidance and regulations, the Indian OFS industry will certainly have a far more positive impact on the Indian economy and sports ecosystem.”
The 2020 edition of virtual GamePlan was attended by over 1500 delegates from technology platforms, game developers, fantasy sports operators, financial institutions, payment gateways, consulting firms, media agencies, sports leagues, and legal advisory firms.
iWorld
Warner Chappell Music launches India ops, Jay Mehta to lead unit
WMG shifts to direct model, unifying publishing and recorded music
MUMBAI: Warner Chappell Music has officially launched direct operations in India, marking a strategic shift by parent Warner Music Group to deepen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets.
The move replaces the company’s earlier sub-publishing model with a full-fledged, on-ground operation, aimed at giving Indian songwriters stronger access to global networks, rights management tools, and creative infrastructure.
To lead the push, Jay Mehta has been handed an expanded mandate. Already serving as managing director of Warner Music India, Mehta will now oversee both recorded music and publishing across India and neighbouring South Asian markets, effectively bringing the two sides of the business under one roof.
The unified structure is designed to streamline how artists and songwriters work with the company, offering a more integrated ecosystem that spans compositions, recordings, and global distribution.
Warner Music Group managing director, recorded music and publishing, India and SAARC Jay Mehta said, “India’s songwriters are world-class, constantly redefining genres and pushing creative boundaries. By establishing a direct footprint for Warner Chappell, we’re bridging the gap between local brilliance and global opportunity.”
The timing is no coincidence. According to CISAC, creator collections in India jumped 42 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7 billion in 2024, while IFPI ranks India as the 15th largest recorded music market globally. At the same time, the industry is undergoing a structural shift, with independent and non-film music gaining ground over traditional Bollywood soundtracks.
Warner’s bet is that a direct presence will help it capture this changing dynamic. The company is also offering India-based creators access to its proprietary tools, including AI-powered royalty matching systems and real-time analytics platforms, aimed at improving transparency and earnings visibility.
Warner Chappell Music co-chair and CEO Guy Moot said the move is about shaping a publishing ecosystem that “works for creators and ensures their music is heard, protected, and rewarded everywhere.”
Meanwhile, Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl underlined India’s importance to the company’s global strategy, noting that the new structure creates a “unified powerhouse” for both creators and audiences.
With local studios, global reach, and tighter integration across its business lines, Warner is clearly doubling down on India. And as streaming habits evolve and independent music rises, the company is positioning itself to be not just a participant, but a key architect of the country’s next music chapter.
