Saregama snaps up more of Pocket Aces, goes all in on youth initiative

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Saregama snaps up more of Pocket Aces, goes all in on youth initiative

Music giant ups its stake to 90.37 per cent, betting big on digital eyeballs and influencer clout

Saregama

MUMBAI: Saregama has snapped up a further 36.63 per cent of Pocket Aces for a cool Rs 127.47 crore. This latest splurge, a second tranche if you will, pushes Saregama's ownership to a dominant 90.37 per cent, leaving little room for anyone else at the digital buffet.

The deal, finalised on 29 March  2025, sees Saregama hoovering up a veritable smorgasbord of shares, from equity to an array of convertible preference shares. Pocket Aces, boasting a digital empire of 175 million followers across its FilterCopy, Dice Media, Nutshell and Gobble channels, and a talent roster of over 215 influencers via Clout, is now firmly under Saregama's wing. The company declared this to the BSE through a regulatory filing on Saturday. 

Pocket Aces, with a back catalogue of over 35,000 content pieces, from digital originals  to those ubiquitous reels, is a digital goldmine for Saregama, keen to woo the 18-35 demographic.

Pocket Aces' financials reveal a turnover of Rs 8859.17 lakhs for FY 24, a slight dip from the previous year's Rs 10267.93 lakhs, but Saregama is betting on synergies, not just spreadsheets. The acquisition, which includes a related party transaction with a Pocket Aces director – all done "at arm's length", naturally – is being touted as a strategic masterstroke.

"This isn't just about owning content; it's about owning the conversation," an industry observer chirped, with the knowledge that  Pocket Aces' vast network can be used by Saregama to turbocharge its music library.

With influencers, long-form content, and snackable reels all under one roof, Saregama is clearly aiming to be the king of the digital jungle.