iWorld
MX TakaTak announces nationwide talent hunt to mark its first anniversary
Mumbai: MX Player’s short video platform MX TakaTak has turned one and to mark the occasion, the app has announced an extensive UGC talent hunt campaign – #MainBhiSuperstar, between 7-31 July.
The #MainBhiSuperstar campaign will handpick outstanding talent from the country wherein creators would be required to showcase their acting skills in a 15 second video.
The talent hunt aims to provide an opportunity for creators to fulfill their lifelong dream of becoming a star. Three best creators will get a chance to star in an MX Player Original, the platform said in a statement.
“The last one year has seen phenomenal growth for this platform and we’ve successfully built an ecosystem of amazing influencers and celebrities who keep our large user base entertained with engaging content across multiple categories,” says MX Group CEO Karan Bedi. “We’ve garnered interest from advertisers across categories and we’re delighted to join hands with renowned brands like PayTM and Pepsi to curate entertaining branded hashtag challenges at such a nascent stage of our monetisation journey. In the months to come, we will continue to invest in finding and enabling great creators, further investing in our recommendation engine and bringing our users state of the art features that will enhance their content creation and consumption experience.”
“#MainBhiSuperstar is our small way of giving back to this large community of aspiring creators by making their dreams a reality and gratifying them with a chance to feature in an MX Player Original. MX Player is one of the biggest stages for the Indian creative ecosystem and this initiative will not only drive synergies between both platforms but also serves as a unique opportunity for the incredibly talented MX TakaTak community to enter the mainstream as actors,” Bedi added.
MX TakaTak is growing to a large and diverse user base with over 150+ million monthly active users, a community of over 48+ million unique creators, and an impressive 355+ million Installs in this short span of time, the platform further said.
iWorld
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.
