MUMBAI: After the likes of the Walt Disney Company and Viacom, amongst others showing a keen interest in investing in Indian film production, now international music label Sony BMG is eyeing a bigger pie of the Indian entertainment industry.
Sony BMG global chief operating officer (COO) Tim Bowen and director global business development Jason Blaine are scheduled to arrive in India early next week to explore investments and associations in the entertainment sector.
Venturing into film production through tie-ups with production houses is being considered as one of the major action points of the visit. In addition to this, international cross-over alliances with Sony BMG artists globally is on the cards. This might facilitate an international release for many Indian and international artists through Sony BMG’s global distribution networks. Moreover, even Sony BMG in-house production could see a mainstream international release in the future.
The company is expected to explore various tie-ups and associations in India in order to create a global platform for its future projects.
This will be the first time that senior authorities of the organization will be visiting the country. Bowen and Blaine are expected to arrive on Monday, 23 April. An official release mentions that the company has “huge investment plans.”
Sony BMG internationally is seeking diverse investment avenues across the globe to transform the face of international entertainment sector. A visit by Bowen and Blaine to India is a step in that direction.
Sony BMG Music Entertainment is 50 per cent owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50 per cent owned by Sony Corporation of America. In India, the company is headed by Shridhar Subramaniam as CEO. Subramaniam is currently in Los Angeles and is expected to arrive in India along with the top bosses on Monday.
The company’s latest music release was Mani Ratnam’s Guru. Some of the other films’ music released by Sony BMG are Rang De Basanti, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Kabhie Khushie Kabhi Gham, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Lagaan.
Some of the non-filmi albums in the company’s kitty are A R Rahman’s Vande Mataram, Kailash Kher’s Kailasa, Jagjit Singh–Gulzar’s Marasim and Koi Baat Chale and the Indian Idol and Fame Gurukul series.
