e-commerce

Music industry seeks protection of IPR, enforcement of laws

Published

18 years ago

February 27, 2008

Music industry seeks protection of IPR, enforcement of laws

MUMBAI: Riding high on technological changes, the music industry and its affiliates in India are not seeking much intervention from the finance minister this time round, except for better enforcement of laws.

The Indian Music Industry (IMI), the body that looks after the interests of most of the music companies in the country, says that there is not much it expects from the Union Budget. But the Phonographic Performances Limited (PPL), the licencing arm of the IMI, is looking at some concrete intervention.

PPL CEO Vipul Pradhan believes there should be a provision in the budget to reduce the VAT on cassettes. He says, “We are hoping the government reduces the VAT on cassettes, which is 12 per cent currently. The VAT applicable on CDs is four per cent which makes it more feasible for the people to opt for CDs instead of the audio cassettes. Reducing the VAT on cassettes also at four per cent will help in their sales.”

“Also, the government has to undertake some kind of initiative for protection of intellectual property and rights. The growth of a country is determined by and large by the sale of computer and entertainment software and piracy is killing the industry. So, it is necessary to form a separate body to protect the intellectual property and also funding is required to educate the common masses about the ill effects of piracy,” adds Pradhan.

The governing body for the music industry down south, Simca, too is not looking for drastic changes, but a stricter adherence to prevailing laws. Simca general secretary SL Saha says, “There are no budgetary or fiscal requirements that I expect in the budget but proper enforcement of the prevailing acts to promote the industry.”

PDM Entertainment COO Aman Anand, who recently organised the Sunburn Music Festival in Goa, wants a lowering of entertainment tax in the budget.

Mobile content company DNS Networks is looking at tax benefits for producers and film making companies, to enable good production values in films, which in turn help mobile content get marketed profitably throughout the world. “Mobile content based on movies, including music, will get an indirect but big boost if filmmaking corporate houses can avail of these tax benefits,” says DNA Networks’ MD Devashish Mishra.

The Internet and Mobile Association of India’s wishlist for the Union Budget recommends that the nascent e-commerce industry in the country be encouraged by the removal of service tax on online internet transactions done through credit cards, debit cards and net banking transactions, a move that might help the online music stores that have been started by some music companies and content aggregators in the country.

The IAMAI has also recommended that the state governments be directed not to impose entertainment tax on internet and broadband services.

People Infocom CEO Manoj Dawane says, “The Indian Mobile VAS Industry is on a growth path, and the times ahead promise opportunities that will need to be capitalized on and avenues that will have to be chartered. Given the existing scenario, we hope for a Budget that provides our space the support to make the most of the opportunities presented.

“Telecom and media are two of the most important interrelated industries for the MVAS space. Considering both these sectors, we would look forward to the implementation of a single levy system for the telecom sector making telecom services more affordable. We would also look forward to some relief in the Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT).”

“It would be favorable for service tax regulations to be kept simple, which will result in increased compliance and greater tax collections, along with making Tax filings and administration simpler and taxpayer friendly,” adds Dawane.

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e-commerce

Comet makes e-commerce debut on Myntra with 40 sneaker styles

Published

1 week ago

February 6, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

BENGALURU: Culture-first sneaker label Comet has entered Indian e-commerce with its debut on Myntra, bringing over 40 footwear styles to the fashion platform’s 75 million monthly active users. The move marks Comet’s first online retail partnership as it looks to scale beyond its direct-to-consumer roots.

The launch features the brand’s popular ranges including X Lows, Aeon V2 and Alter, alongside an exclusive new design, X Lows Polaris, available only on Myntra. The collaboration strengthens Myntra’s growing sneaker portfolio aimed at Gen Z and millennial consumers drawn to streetwear culture and design-led brands.

Myntra head of category and revenue Ritesh Mishra, said Comet’s sharp design language and community-driven approach aligned with the platform’s focus on trend-forward labels shaping India’s contemporary sneaker culture.

Comet co-founders Utkarsh Gupta and Dishant Daryani said the partnership would help the brand reach a wider audience while staying rooted in its product-first philosophy and close customer engagement.

Built on the ethos “Never shy, never sorry”, Comet has gained traction for bold silhouettes, vibrant colourways and limited-edition drops inspired by cultural nostalgia and storytelling. The Myntra debut signals the brand’s next phase of growth in India’s fast-evolving sneaker and streetwear market.

e-commerce

Amazon Q4 sales jump 14 per cent as AWS revenue surges 24 per cent

Published

1 week ago

February 6, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

SEATTLE: Amazon has closed 2025 with robust fourth-quarter growth across its core businesses, even as spending on sales, marketing and infrastructure continued to climb. The company reported a 14 per cent rise in Q4 net sales to $213.4 billion, driven by solid momentum in North America, International markets and a sharp acceleration at AWS.

Sales and marketing expenses rose 8.7 per cent year on year to $14.3 billion in the quarter, reflecting sustained investment in customer acquisition and brand reach. For the full year, the bill climbed 7.3 per cent to $47.1 billion.

AWS remained the standout performer, with revenue jumping 24 per cent to $35.6 billion in the quarter, its fastest pace in more than three years. North America sales grew 10 per cent to $127.1 billion, while International revenues climbed 17 per cent to $50.7 billion, aided partly by favourable currency movements.

Operating income rose to $25.0 billion in Q4, up from $21.2 billion a year earlier, though the figure was weighed down by special charges linked to tax settlements in Italy, severance costs and asset impairments tied largely to physical stores. Excluding these, operating profit would have reached $27.4 billion.

Net income increased to $21.2 billion, or $1.95 per share, compared with $20.0 billion a year ago.

For the full year 2025, Amazon posted 12 per cent growth in net sales to $716.9 billion. AWS revenues climbed 20 per cent to $128.7 billion, while North America and International segments grew 10 per cent and 13 per cent respectively. Operating income expanded to $80.0 billion, with AWS contributing more than half of the total.

Cash generation strengthened, with operating cash flow rising 20 per cent to $139.5 billion. Free cash flow, however, fell sharply to $11.2 billion as capital spending surged, largely reflecting heavy investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

President and chief executive officer Andy Jassy, said demand across cloud services, advertising, retail and emerging technologies such as AI chips, robotics and low-earth-orbit satellites remained strong. He added that Amazon plans to invest around $200 billion in capital expenditure in 2026 to support long-term growth.

The company also pointed to a wave of new AWS partnerships, spanning clients such as OpenAI, Visa, the NBA, BlackRock, Salesforce, Adobe, HSBC and the London Stock Exchange Group, underscoring cloud demand across industries.

e-commerce

Flipkart elevates Aditya Maheshwari as head of category and P and L for toys, stationery and babycare

Published

1 week ago

February 6, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

BENGALURU: Flipkart has elevated Aditya Maheshwari to head of category and P and L for toys, stationery and babycare, placing him in charge of end-to-end business strategy and financial performance across the high-growth segments.

The move follows a four-year stint at the e-commerce major, where Maheshwari served as category head for toys and stationery and associate director for beauty and personal care. During this period, he played a key role in strengthening Flipkart’s position across multiple consumer categories through scale-driven portfolio management.

Maheshwari brings deep experience across India’s startup and e-commerce ecosystem. Prior to his current elevation, he previously worked at Flipkart as a category manager and business development lead in the early phase of his career.

He is also the co-founder of Packflea.com and has held leadership roles including head of alliances at Xoxoday and head buyer at Gozefo.com. His early experience in procurement and sourcing spans platforms such as Giftxoxo.com and buytheprice.com.

With a strong track record of managing large P&Ls and building scalable category businesses, Maheshwari is now set to spearhead Flipkart’s strategic expansion in toys and babycare.