Universal buys majority stake in India-based TM Ventures, which manages superstars Arijit Singh and Badshah

Pictured [L-R]: Tarsame Mittal, Devraj Sanyal, Adam Granite, Alaap Gosher & Saurabh Abbi.

Universal Music India (UMI) has taken a majority stake in Indian music and entertainment company TM Ventures, which manages a roster of artists, including Indian rapper Badshah.

UMI made the announcement on Tuesday (September 27), without disclosing the financial terms of the deal.

The deal comes about two years after TM Ventures was formed by Indian entrepreneur Tarsame Mittal, combining his entertainment businesses including TM Music, Entertainment Consultant, B2B digital publication Music Plus and Create and Collab, the producer of All About Music, India’s annual music conference.

In 2012, Mittal formed artist management company TM Talent Management, whose roster includes Arijit Singh, one of the most streamed Indian artists on Spotify. Before forming TM Talent, Mittal ran more than 20 different businesses, he told MBW in June 2021.

TM Ventures has since managed a roster of artists in the music, comedy, TV and film industries including Arijit Singh, Nucleya, Badshah, Sunidhi Chauhan, Asees Kaur, Sunny M.R., Renuka Parwar, Kapil Sharma, Amit Trivedi, Ajay Atul, Vishal Bhardwaj, Rekha Bhardwaj, Amitabh Bhattacharya and Zubeen Garg, among others.

“We will expand the scope of opportunities available to Indian artists and accelerate the growth of the Indian music market, building a new, more expansive model of services available from UMG to all Indian artists.”

Adam Granite, UMG

Speaking about the acquisition of a majority interest in TM Ventures, UMG’s Executive Vice President, Market Development, Adam Granite, said: “We are delighted to partner with Tarsame Mittal and his team at TM Ventures. Together we will accelerate UMI’s evolution within India and South Asia, by expanding the range of services we offer.”

The transaction with UMI will see TM Ventures working with UMG in managing the former’s operations including talent discovery, music creation, marketing and release, live events, brand solutions and sync placements.

“At TM Ventures, we are ecstatic to begin our partnership with UMG. We have grown TMV up to this point with great care, passion, and a single-minded vision to become the company we are.”

Tarsame Mittal

“At TM Ventures, we are ecstatic to begin our partnership with UMG. We have grown TMV up to this point with great care, passion, and a single-minded vision to become the company we are,” Mittal said.

“We carry the learnings, vision, and passion on to this next level of growth alongside a robust global network which shares in the “artist first” belief as much as we do,” Mittal added.

The move comes as Universal Music doubles down on its Indian operations, particularly on domestic A&R.

Last year, UMI launched a new label called VYRL Punjabi in partnership with music composer Jatinder Shah after launching VYRL Haryanvi and VYRL Bhojpuri.

Delhi-born rapper, singer and music producer Badshah, who is also signed with TM Ventures, in July 2021 inked an exclusive global agreement with UMG for future recordings, music publishing rights for non-film compositions, brand licensing and partnerships.

UMI’s Granite most recently said the company will help TM Ventures accelerate artist development activities “in order to introduce the very best in Indian talent to new audiences globally.”

“Together, with Tarsame and his excellent co-CEOs Alaap [Gosher] and Saurabh [Abbi], we will expand the scope of opportunities available to Indian artists and accelerate the growth of the Indian music market, building a new, more expansive model of services available from UMG to all Indian artists,” Granite added.

“Universal Music India and TM Ventures share a belief in developing and boosting the careers of homegrown talent and artists.”

Devraj Sanyal, Universal

Devraj Sanyal, MD & CEO, Universal Music India & South Asia, added: “It is a great honor to align with Tarsame, one of India’s most accomplished and respected entrepreneurs.

“Universal Music India and TM Ventures share a belief in developing and boosting the careers of homegrown talent and artists.

“Together, with Tarsame and his excellent co-CEOs Alaap and Saurabh, we will expand the scope of opportunities available to Indian artists and accelerate the growth of the Indian music market, building a new, more expansive model of services available from UMG to all Indian artists.”

 Music Business Worldwide