iWorld
MX Player launches new series ‘Salesman of the Year’
Mumbai: MX Player has emerged as a preferred destination for maximum entertainment, owing to its exceptional content and diverse library of shows across genres and formats. And now, the platform is preparing to enthrall its viewers with the MX Studios original Salesman of the Year.
A slice-of-life mini-series Salesman of the Year produced by MX Studios, follows the life of a 26-year-old Karthik, played by Hussain Dalal, and his Charminar to Chandni Chowk journey as this Hyderabadi salesman relocates to Delhi. Co-powered by Valvoline and ET Money, and in collaboration with TVS Raider, Salesman of the Year will premiere exclusively on MX Player on 21 December.
Salesman of the Year is a five-episode series about a Hyderabad-born and raised 26-year-old Karthik who lands a sales job in Delhi. Karthik attempts to cope with life in a city, a place that is unfamiliar and often intimidating in every way, in order to prove to his parents that a sales job is not insignificant. With hope in his heart and ambition in his veins, he begins to deal with a highly competitive workplace, a jargon-spouting boss, an overly friendly DJ as a roommate, and locals who constantly threaten him, and all he can do is ensure that things don’t go south – literally and metaphorically.
Directed by Ankita Sharma, the series is written by Rajesh Narasimhan and Ashiish V Patil and also features internet sensation Ahsaas Channa in a key role.
Talking about the show, Dalal said, “Salesman of the Year tells a story that is extremely relatable for everyone as we are all trying to belong and be accepted – be it in a new city, a new job, with new friends or our own family. I had a blast playing Karthik Reddy, as his Hyderabadi slang & swag are something viewers have not had a chance to see before. The show is a masaledaar serving of Hyderabadi biryani with Dilli ke parathe – Amma kasam majhaa ayenga!”
Channa further added saying, “This was amongst the most mature and challenging characters I’ve had a chance to play. To portray a cold, aggressive corporate woman who comes with a gripping backstory was amazing. The script and the team made the entire journey and experience much more exciting – hopefully viewers will find both Ira Saxena and the show as exciting as I did!”
MX Player COO, Nikhil Gandhi said, “The vision behind creating MX Studios is to offer bespoke brand solutions to advertisers and marketers across categories, tailored to cater to the pulse of Indian audiences. After the successful launch of our latest quiz based series, ‘Business Baazi’, we are delighted to associate with Valvoline, ET Money and TVS Raider for the upcoming slice of life series, Salesman of the Year. Written by Patil, it is an amalgamation of compelling content and seamless brand integrations. The diverse reach and target segmentation that MX Player offers is unparalleled in the OTT ecosystem and we hope to continue delivering value and impact for our stakeholders.”
Valvoline marketing head Ipshita Chowdhury, further added, “Shifting a job and city both can trigger quite a bumpy ride. MX Studio’s new show Salesman of the Year tells the story of one such Hyderabadi salesman who moves to Delhi – and that’s when he finds a friend and Valvoline Bike Xpert, Rocky who runs one of Delhi’s top bike garages to help him make his life and ride, both smoother. Just like what Valvoline’s Champ 4T Engine Oil does for motorcycles. We found a great fit and a fun story to integrate the brand seamlessly and we are delighted to partner with MX Studios to present a fun new series that the viewers will enjoy.”
ET Money chief operating officer Santosh Navlani added, “MX Player’s new show ‘Salesman of the Year’ depicts how the protagonist, Karthik, faces a challenge when investing his money and how ET Money Genius solves all his concerns and empowers him with investing intelligence. There is a strong correlation between Karthik and ET Money’s target audience, who witness the same challenge while making their investment decisions. With such a perfect narrative and story resonance, we believe our association with MX Player in this show gives us an opportunity to portray the value and power ET Money Genius can bring to an investor’s life, i.e., empowering them with investing intelligence.”
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.
