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Moj app announces nationwide talent hunt to mark its first anniversary
India: Close on the heels of celebrating its first anniversary, short-video app Moj has announced a nationwide talent hunt, #MojSuperstarHunt. The campaign aims at finding remarkable talent amongst the most original and outstanding content creators across India. The competition is set to take place between 15 July and 31 August.
Moj will provide a launchpad for the next generation of creators to showcase their skills and help them reach digital stardom, the company said in a statement. The top five winners will be awarded Rs five lakh each, and they will compete with each other for the ultimate prize of Rs ten lakh, it added.
The show will be hosted by Moj’s top influencer Awez Darbar and the grand finale will have Bollywood choreographer-director Remo D’Souza as the judge.
Moj’s director-content strategy, Shashank Shekhar said, “As we complete our first anniversary, we wanted to celebrate the creator community who have contributed to our success. We are thrilled to launch #MojSuperstarHunt that will serve as a unique platform to unearth some of India’s finest talent. At Moj, we celebrate originality and creativity and are constantly looking at avenues to further our creators’ growth. With this platform, we endeavour to bring out the best emerging stars in the country and help them reach incredible levels of recognition and success.”
On judging the talent hunt, Remo D’Souza said, “The talent hunt is a great concept to give creators, who are passionate about their craft, a stage. I believe #MojSuperstarHunt will be a path-breaking show for budding artists and will give rise to a new generation of digital stars. I am excited to see what creators from across India will bring to the table.”
On the occasion of its one-year celebration, Moj has also rolled out a special birthday lens with its 3D avatar ‘Mast Moji’.
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Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
