Warner Music India Invests in SkillBox, Expanding into Live Entertainment
Mumbai, August 2024 - Warner Music India, a division of the global entertainment giant Warner Music Group, has announced a strategic minority investment in SkillBox, marking its entry into the live entertainment sector. This investment positions Warner Music India as a key player in India's growing entertainment industry, enhancing its offerings and creating new avenues for its artists.
SkillBox, founded by Anmol Kukreja and Sandip Ranjhan, and later joined by Roydon Bangera and Amarjeet Singha as co-founders, has evolved from a mere ticketing platform to a comprehensive live entertainment service provider. The company now offers ticketing, live brand solutions, and live tech services under its SkillBox Pay brand. It has made a name for itself by organizing high-profile international concerts such as the Jacob Collier India Tour, Steve Vai India Tour, and Ben Howard Tour, alongside notable domestic events like DIVINE’s post-pandemic shows and Hanumankind’s tours.
Strategic Significance and Industry Growth
Jay Mehta, Managing Director of Warner Music India & SAARC, stated, “Investing in SkillBox blends perfectly with our aim of being an artiste-first, fan-first company. SkillBox’s innovative approach aligns exactly with our vision to provide comprehensive services to artists.” He added that the live entertainment sector in India is poised for rapid growth, and this collaboration will foster dynamic opportunities in the market.
SkillBox, with over 1.5 million users, is not just about ticketing; it also manages artists through its division LevelHouse, representing talents like IParekh & Singh and Parvaaz.
Expanding Warner Music's Reach
This move is part of Warner Music India’s broader strategy to deepen its engagement in India’s entertainment landscape, following previous partnerships with companies like Divo, JetSynthesys, and E-Positive. Alfonso Perez Soto, Executive Vice-President of Recorded Music and Corporate Development at Warner Music Group, highlighted the untapped potential of India's live music scene, stating, "Our investment in SkillBox enables us to expand the services we can seamlessly offer artists, connecting them with fans across India."
Future Outlook
The founders of SkillBox expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. CEO Anmol Kukreja remarked, “This is a significant milestone for SkillBox. With Warner Music's extensive industry expertise, we aim to push the boundaries in live music, creating more opportunities for artists and memorable events for audiences.” Roydon Bangera, Chief Business Officer at SkillBox, added, “This partnership sets the stage for a new era in India’s live entertainment landscape, enhancing connections between artists and fans.”
This investment comes at a time when the live entertainment and ticketing market in India is witnessing significant consolidation, as evidenced by Zomato's recent $244.2 million acquisition of Paytm's movie and event ticketing businesses in August 2024, aiming to challenge BookMyShow's dominance in the sector.