MUMBAI: Erstwhile Sony Music (Director - Digital business), Mr. Hari Nair has been hired as Chief Digital Officer by Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) India. Hari brings deep expertise in building digital products and business, and will be part of the leadership team at PPL. He will be reporting to PPL President and CEO Mr Rajat Kakar.

On this appointment, PPL President and CEO Rajat Kakar commented, “We continue to invest in our transformation agenda. PPL is entering a very exciting phase in its life cycle where transparency and technology are going to be the key drivers for growth and in turn will result in improved distribution of license royalty amongst the large member base. Hari’s skills in digital combined with his business building acumen will be very handy for PPL at this stage.”

On his new role, Mr Hari Nair said “We will build digital products that are required to get us in synch with our global counterparts and increase transparency with end users. This role helps me learn two business verticals of the music industry i.e. public performance and radio. Currently, the revenue contribution from these two verticals is very small. Digital tools that we build should empower teams, increase team productivity and compliance on licensing with an end objective to increase revenues for our members.”

Hari’s primary responsibility will be to transform the traditional business / processes into new age digital ones. The first such step is an online licensing system to bring in transparency and ease of doing business for PPL license users. Business development for public performance using technology based solutions will be the core part of these responsibilities. Additionally, he would lead the radio business, membership teams and be responsible for PR and Communication strategy, including social media etc.

Hari will also play a crucial role at IMI (Indian Music Industry) and would be leading the anti-piracy efforts along with government departments like DIPP / CIPAM and Maharashtra Cyber Cell Unit. He would lead the creation of the Indian Music Charts, working with major streaming platforms like Saavn, Gaana, Amazon, Apple etc.

On this IMI Chairman Mr. Shridhar Subramaniam said, “The government and the IMI are initiating a number of programmes to tackle the menace of digital piracy. Hari’s understanding of technology and music business uniquely qualifies him to develop and coordinate the anti-piracy efforts from IMI.”

Hari was heading the digital business for Sony Music India for the last five years. Sony hired him to run the Jive platform, a music streaming app which was bundled in Sony handsets. Prior to that, he was the Head of Sales and Operations at Mauj Mobile. His first foray in the media industry was with Soundbuzz, which was acquired later by Motorola. Overall, he has 20 years of experience in the New Media space.