iWorld
With choreographer Raju, Asif emerges as the winner of aha’s ‘Dance Ikon’
Mumbai: After a successful 13-week run, the popular Telugu dance reality show Dance Ikon has finally come to an end. It has been one of the top-rated Telugu shows on the streaming platform Aha.
Emerging as the winners of aha’s Dance Ikon after battling 12 other aspirants, Asif and Raju reached many unprecedented highs. While Asif walked away with the prize money of Rs 20 lakhs and the sought-after Dance Ikon trophy, as promised, Raju got a chance to choreograph for a top Tollywood actor. The winner announcement was held at the Dance Ikon sets, where Asif and Raju were presented the Dance Ikon trophy by the judges and producers.
The gala evening witnessed some remarkable performances by contestants in the presence of Tollywood producers who are the owners of the contestants: Geetha Arts’ Allu Aravind, Mythri Movie Makers’ Ravi Shankar, SVCC’s Bapineedu & Hanshitha, and Sithara Entertainments’ Naga Vamsi. The producers raised the finalists’ energy levels as the participants reached the finish line.
While speaking on winning the competition, choreographer Raju said, “Words can’t begin to describe what Dance Ikonmeans to me. Dance is my passion, my one true love, and today it has brought me to a new destination and labelled me as the winner of Dance Ikon! I would like to thank my contestant Asif for standing by me throughout my journey, my fellow choreographers for challenging me at every point, and the judges for inspiring me week after week to give Dance Ikon my very best. Thank you, viewers, and aha, for making my aspiration a reality.”
“Dance Ikon has been very entertaining. We managed to rope in an eclectic mix of contestants, bring in varied dance forms, and put together some extraordinary acts. This show was about many firsts. I would like to congratulate not only Raju and Asif but all the other contestants and choreographers who contributed to making Dance Ikon a memorable one,” commented aha CEO Ajit Thakur.
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.
