Sony Music’s New Joint Venture
Sony Music Entertainment (SME) India has established a joint venture with a prominent Indian film production house to launch a recording label intended to “educate new talents, promote creative storytelling, and facilitate connections between artists, audiences, and brands.”
Tiger Baby Records Overview
Tiger Baby Records is led by founders Reema Kagti, a director and screenwriter known for films such as Talaash and Gold, alongside director Zoya Akhtar, recognized for works like Lust Stories, Ghost Stories, and Gully Boy, as well as singer-songwriter Angkur Tevari.
Akhtar and Kagti originally founded a film production company, Tiger Baby Films, in 2015.
One of the inaugural projects from Tiger Baby Records is a collaboration with the jewelry brand Tanishq featuring a wedding song written by Abhishek Ananya and performed by Poor Kutish. The accompanying music video is directed by Kagti.
The label has also recently released the soundtrack for Super 30, a film based on the life of director Nasir Sheikh. The soundtrack was produced by Sachin-Jigar with lyrics by renowned screenwriter and poet Javed Akhtar, who is also Zoya Akhtar’s father.
“Tiger Baby Records heralds a new era of music in India, where compelling storytelling and innovative collaboration take center stage.”
Vinit Thakkar, SME India
As stated by the managing director of SME India, Blays Tabkar, “We are thrilled to embark on this journey, breaking boundaries and bringing new, authentic voices to the forefront of the industry, while partnering with Zoya, Reema, and Ankur, who have a remarkable track record in music and storytelling.”
Zoya Akhtar commented, “Music has consistently been a vital element of our storytelling, and with Tiger Baby Records, we aim to make music the central narrative. Collaborating with Sony Music India enables us to realize our vision and provide a platform for indie talent to shine.”
Reema Kagti remarked, “This partnership represents an exciting new chapter for us at Tiger Baby. With Tiger Baby Records, we aim to explore the diverse soundscapes of the subcontinent and present them to the world. By collaborating with brands and emerging artists, we hope this music will reach a vast audience.”
“With Tiger Baby Records, we aim to explore the diverse soundscapes of the subcontinent and present them to the world.”
Reema Kagti, Tiger Baby Records
Angkur Tevari, a music director at Tiger Baby Films, added, “Tiger Baby Records fosters an environment where creativity thrives. I am delighted to be part of this journey, where we can build a legacy with artists who harness the power of our voices for free expression.”
Tiger Baby Records is also set to launch an initiative called “City Sessions,” in partnership with Mumbai’s Island City Studios. This program aims to offer artists the chance to collaborate and experiment in a “dynamic, unfiltered” environment, as stated in a press release.
“City Sessions will provide singer-songwriters the opportunity to refine their craft, collaborate with renowned artists in the studio, and connect with a broader audience,” said Tiger Baby Records.
SME’s partnership with Tiger Baby is the latest in a series of strategic moves by Sony Music within India’s rapidly growing music industry. Among these initiatives was the 2022 joint venture between Sony Music and Sony Pictures to create Sony Entertainment Talent Ventures India (SETVI), focusing on “Ventures for Media Talent in India.”
In 2023, Sony Music Publishing entered into a global deal with The Big Bang Music, under which SMP manages and promotes Big Bang music worldwide.
In the same year, SMP also reached an agreement with Music Tips, encompassing over 30,000 tracks including soundtracks from various popular Bollywood films from the 1990s and 2000s. SMP expanded this deal at the beginning of this year.
Moreover, in the prior year, SME India announced a partnership with Maddok Films for the production of films and web series in Mumbai, focused on creating musical projects, including soundtracks and indie pop singles.
Additionally, Sony Music Group’s Artist Services Company, Aval, expanded into India in 2023 with the acquisition of the digital music platform Supreme, appointing Aniket Parpillewar, the former head for India and South Asia at Amazon, as the new lead.
Sony Music also recently acquired a significant catalog in India from Eros.
Sony Music forms record label joint venture with Tiger Baby Films in latest move in India
