Mandar Thakur, CEO of Times Music Group, to receive the International Music Person of the Year Award at MUSEXPO 2025 in recognition of his transformative role in India's music industry.
UPDATE (Oct. 21): Mandar Thakur, CEO of Times Music Group (India), has been selected as the International Music Person of the Year at MUSEXPO 2025. Thakur is the first executive from the Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia regions to receive this prestigious honor.
Thakur will be presented with the award during a special luncheon on Tuesday, March 19, 2025, on the closing day of MUSEXPO 2025, set to take place from March 16-19, 2025, in Burbank, California.
Mandar Thakur’s Impact on the Music Industry
Under Thakur's leadership, Times Music has grown into one of the dominant forces in India's music, digital, and publishing sectors. As the CEO, Thakur has overseen the evolution of the company, expanding it to include various verticals such as record labels, music publishing, and artist management. The company also operates sub-labels like Junglee Music (focused on Bollywood soundtracks) and ffs (indie music), highlighting India's diverse musical heritage.
Before joining Times Music, Thakur was part of the founding team at Soundbuzz, a pioneering digital music distribution company in Asia/India, which was acquired by Motorola in 2008.
Sat Bisla, president and founder of A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO, praised Thakur's achievements, stating, "Mandar’s significant contributions to the music industry, both in India and globally, make him a deserving recipient for the International Music Person of the Year at MUSEXPO 2025. His work has not only transformed India’s music ecosystem but has also paved the way for the region to become one of the most formidable players on the world music stage."
Related Awards at MUSEXPO 2025
In addition to Thakur’s recognition, Mark Beaven, co-founder and co-CEO of Advanced Alternative Media (AAM), Inc., will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award during a luncheon on Monday, March 17, 2025, at Castaway in Burbank, Calif. Beaven has played a transformative role in the music and entertainment industries through his work at AAM, representing artists like The Smiths, Depeche Mode, Prince, and many more.
Michael Goldstone, founder of Mom + Pop Music, will also be honored with the 2025 Seymour Stein Global A&R Award, recognizing his impact on artist discovery and development.
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