Universal Music Makes India Appointments, Develops Non-Film Label

MUMBAI – With the number of diagnosed cases of the coronavirus inching up every day, India is moving swiftly to avoid a major outbreak, actions that are taking a great toll on the live music industry.Last week, the Indian government said it was suspending visas for nationals from all countries, effective until April 15.

“Charm City Kings” won over many critics in its Sundance premiere earlier this year, and likely would have been doing the same in Texas this week if it were showing, as planned, at the canceled South by Southwest Film Festival.

The Indian film industry, one of the world's most prolific content engines, is shutting down. After an emergency meeting over the weekend, the India Motion Picture Producers' Association said Monday that it would request the suspension of all film, TV, advertising and web series shoots in the country from March 19 to 31.

By Andreas Wiseman

India will temporarily stop all film, television and digital productions from March 19 through 30 as a response to the spreading novel coronavirus pandemic.

The novel coronavirus outbreak, which has led to closures and lockdowns across the world, majorly impacted the entertainment business in India as well as in the US. Talk show hosts were forced to announce that they will not be having a live audience for their show taping.

MUMBAI – Indian-American rapper and singer-songwriter Raja Kumari has signed to Mass Appeal India, the label announced Monday (March 9). Kumari, aka Svetha Rao, is one of India's biggest hip-hop acts and among the few female English-speaking artists to have made a mark in the genre here.The California native follows rapper and frequent collaborator Divine to Mass Appeal India, a partnership between Nas-owned U.S.-based entertainment company Mass Appeal and Universal Music India.

Universal Music Latin America has appointed Luis Estrada president of Universal Music Southern Cone, overseeing the company's operations in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.Estrada had been the managing director of Aftercluv, Universal Music Latin Entertainment's dance division, since 2016. A Universal executive for almost two decades, Estrada had also served as General Manager of Universal Music Latino.

Warner Music Group is continuing its global expansion with the launch of a new affiliate in India. Warner Music India will be headed up by music executive Jay

Warner Music India officially launched today, as the company announced its newest affiliate with former Sony Music India executive Jay Mehta as managing director. His purview will also cover the other markets in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Mass Appeal India has announced the signing of Grammy-nominated Indian-American rapper-singer-songwriter-dancer Raja Kumari, the first female rapper to sign with the label.

A small but splendid Indian tale inspired by poems written by Lalleshwari, a 14th century woman mystic from Kashmir, as well as a Rajasthan folk story, Pushpendra Singh’s The Shepherdess and the Seven Songs(Laila aur satt geet) takes the viewer deep into the heart of northwest India, where a young nomadic bride plays with her desires and toys with the lust of a young ranger.

If YouTube algorithms were available for purchase, Dan Snaith’s would be at the top of my list. The 41-year-old Canadian composer, best known for his electronic project Caribou, showcased the power of his browsing in a recent Pitchfork feature on Rupa’s 1982 album Disco Jazz, a Indian disco album that exploded thanks in part to Snaith.

Lady Gaga’s aim with her new album is to release music that “makes people happy every single day”.

By Mike Fleming Jr

MUMBAI - Universal Music India (UMI), a division of the Universal Music Group (UMG), has unveiled a series of appointments to its leadership teams as part of “a strategic expansion” that will further its commitment to growing the market for non-film music in the region. Vinit Thakkar has been promoted from senior vice president to the newly-