Warner Music India has announced the appointment of Ashok Parwani as Head of Music for South Indian markets, strengthening its senior leadership as it sharpens its regional strategy. The move follows Warner Music India’s majority acquisition of Divo, one of South India’s leading digital media and music companies, and signals a renewed focus on long-term catalogue growth across the southern states.
In his new role, Parwani will oversee Warner Music India’s music operations across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam markets. His mandate includes expanding the company’s regional catalogue, deepening relationships with artists, producers and creators, and aligning Warner Music India’s local strategy more closely with Divo’s on-ground capabilities.
Parwani brings more than four decades of industry experience spanning India, Sri Lanka and the UAE. During a two-decade tenure at Sony Music India, he played a central role in building the label’s South India business, leading major catalogue acquisitions and forging long-standing partnerships with filmmakers, producers and artists across the region.
Divo has emerged as a key player in South India’s music and digital ecosystem, with operations spanning distribution, publishing, digital content and influencer marketing. Warner Music India’s majority stake in the company, acquired in 2023, marked a significant step in its strategy to invest more deeply in regional music cultures and creator-led ecosystems.
Warner Music India has continued to expand its regional footprint through a growing catalogue and new initiatives, including the launch of Loopd, an artist-first label focused on independent talent. The company has also entered into a collaborative initiative with Sri Lanka-based M-Entertainments and Divo, aimed at creating international opportunities for regional artists.
Jay Mehta, Managing Director, Warner Music India and SAARC, said Parwani’s appointment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to South India. He noted that the region remains a core growth market within Warner Music India’s national strategy and that Parwani’s leadership and regional insight would be critical in building sustainable pathways for local artists to scale domestically and globally.
Shahir Muneer, Co-Founder and Director at Divo, said Parwani’s experience would add depth to Warner Music India’s South India strategy and further strengthen Divo’s role within the wider Warner Music network as the company scales its catalogue and partnerships across the region.
Commenting on his appointment, Parwani said South India continues to be one of the most creatively dynamic music markets in the country. He added that the combination of Warner Music India’s global infrastructure and Divo’s strong regional presence presents a significant opportunity to take South Indian music to wider audiences in India and internationally.
The appointment marks another step in Warner Music India’s efforts to integrate Divo more closely into its operations while building a more structured and globally connected ecosystem for South Indian artists.
