2024-11-11 06:00:08 :
The move marks Warner Music India’s entry into the live entertainment business, strengthening its product portfolio and expanding opportunities for its artists.
Neither company disclosed details of the deal.
Founded by Anmol Kukreja and Sandip Ranjhan, with Roydon Bangera and Amarjeet Singha as co-founders, SkillBox has grown from a ticketing platform to a full live entertainment company. Its products include ticketing, real-time branding solutions, and real-time technology services such as SkillBox Pay.
SkillBox is known for hosting international concerts including Jacob Collier India Tour, Steve Vai India Tour and Ben Howard Tour. It has also been instrumental in organizing domestic successes such as DIVINE’s first two post-pandemic shows, Hanumankind’s two-city tour following Big Dawgs, and Karnivool’s India tour. Focused on curating niche, community-led events, SkillBox has established intellectual properties such as Bloomverse, K-Wave and Lemonade.
Unlocking the growth potential of India’s live entertainment industry
In a joint statement issued by the two companies, Jay Mehta, Managing Director, Warner Music India and SAARC, highlighted the strategic significance of the investment. “Investing in SkillBox aligns perfectly with Warner Music India’s goal of becoming an artist-first, fan-first company. SkillBox’s innovative approach to live entertainment is fully aligned with our vision of providing comprehensive services to artists.”
“Live entertainment is expected to grow rapidly. By joining forces, we can create dynamic new opportunities in India’s fast-growing entertainment market and ensure our artistes have the best platform to grow,” he added.
With over 1.5 million users, SkillBox provides seamless ticketing and an immersive event experience. Its artist management arm, LevelHouse, represents the likes of IParekh & Singh, Blackstratblues and Parvaaz.
Warner Music’s strategic expansion
The investment reflects Warner Music India’s broader strategy to lead the Indian entertainment industry, following its partnerships with Divo, JetSynthesys and E-Positive. These joint ventures position Warner Music India as a key player in the growing market, focusing on digital, live and artist-first services.
Alfonso Perez Soto, Executive Vice President, Recorded Music, Corporate Development, Warner Music Group, highlighted the untapped potential of the Indian live music scene. “We see huge opportunity in India’s still nascent live entertainment industry. Our investment in SkillBox allows us to expand the services we can offer to domestic and international artistes seamlessly, connecting them with fans across India. “
for the future
SkillBox’s founders see the partnership as an important milestone. Anmol Kukreja, CEO and Founder, SkillBox, said in a statement: “We are delighted to partner with Warner Music India as this marks an important milestone in SkillBox’s growth journey. With Warner Music’s rich industry expertise, artist line-up and With a global reach, our goal is to push the boundaries of what is possible in live music, create more opportunities for artists, and bring unforgettable events to audiences across the country.”
Roydon Bangera, Chief Commercial Officer, SkillBox, added: “This partnership sets the stage for a new era in live entertainment in India. By leveraging our expertise in music IP and branded live experiences, we can create more meaningful experiences for artists and fans contact opportunities.”
Warner Music India’s investment in SkillBox reflects the company’s broader trend of strengthening its live entertainment and ticketing services in India. In August 2024, Zomato announced a $244.2 million acquisition of Paytm’s movie and event ticketing business, which includes platforms such as Ticketnew and Insider, to strengthen its foothold in a market long dominated by BookMyShow.
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