iWorld
ThuDo Multimedia welcomes Yeeshu Baijal as country director
MUMBAI: Two decades – long enough for a fledgling to become a master.
For Yeeshu Baijal, 20 years have been a journey of mastering the art of broadcast, shaping trends, and redefining industry standards.
Now, this seasoned leader steps into the spotlight as ThuDo Multimedia India appoints him as country director, entrusting him with the helm to steer their growth and innovation in the ever-evolving Indian OTT multimedia landscape.
Baijal’s extensive career includes significant roles at leading firms such as ABV International, where he served as sales head for SAARC countries. In this capacity, he was instrumental in driving business development and establishing strategic partnerships across the region. His leadership was pivotal in expanding ABV International’s footprint and enhancing its market presence.
Prior to his tenure at ABV International, Baijal held key positions at various organisations like TRIAX A/S regional manager; Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd manager- network sales & development; Zee Turner Ltd area sales manager; Disney Star territory manager, contributing to their growth and success through his deep understanding of the broadcast and media landscape. His career trajectory reflects a consistent commitment to innovation and excellence in service delivery.
At ThuDo Multimedia India, Baijal will oversee the deployment of Sigma OTT—a comprehensive solution designed to meet the diverse needs of broadcast and media operators worldwide. Sigma OTT’s suite of products addresses critical challenges, including content protection through Sigma DRM and revenue generation via Sigma Interactive, a value-added portal for broadcasters.
iWorld
Spotify rolls out ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge for artists
New badge and profile details aim to boost transparency in AI-driven music era.
MUMBAI: In a world where even playlists can have imposters, Spotify is adding a badge of trust. The streaming platform has begun rolling out a new ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge, alongside expanded artist profile details, as it looks to bring greater clarity to listeners navigating an increasingly complex mix of human and AI-generated music. The badge, currently in beta, will appear on artist profiles that meet Spotify’s internal criteria for authenticity. These include consistent listener engagement, adherence to platform policies and signs of a real-world presence such as live performances, merchandise or active social media profiles. Notably, profiles representing primarily AI-generated artists will not be eligible for verification at launch.
Spotify says the verification process will combine automated systems with human review, prioritising artists with sustained audience interest over those driven by short-term spikes. The rollout will be gradual, with the badge appearing across profiles and search results over the coming weeks. The company noted that more than 99 per cent of artists users actively search for are already included in the initial phase.
Alongside the badge, Spotify is also introducing a new artist details section within profiles. Available even for non-verified artists, the feature will highlight career milestones, release activity and touring history, offering listeners a more comprehensive view of an artist’s journey and output.
The move builds on Spotify’s broader push towards transparency, complementing existing features such as SongDNA, expanded song credits and AI attribution tools. Together, these updates aim to give users more context about what they are listening to and who is behind it.
As generative AI continues to blur the lines between creator and creation, Spotify’s latest update signals a clear intent: in the streaming era, authenticity is becoming just as important as accessibility.
