Times Music, owned by The Times Group, has announced the acquisition of Catrack Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., marking its third strategic acquisition and further advancing its catalogue-led growth strategy in partnership with Primary Wave Music. The move adds a significant Punjabi music library to its portfolio, reinforcing its positioning in heritage-driven IP acquisition and long-term monetisation across global platforms.
Established in 1990, Catrack Entertainment is recognised as a pioneering Punjabi music label that helped define a formative era for the genre. Its ‘golden era’ catalogue includes influential artists such as Babbu Maan, Malkit Singh, Channi Singh, and Dolly Singh. The label also supported early career development for artists including Manmohan Waris, Surjit Khan, and Sukhwinder Panchhi. The catalogue retains strong cultural relevance and an established digital presence, creating scope for monetisation through sync licensing, film, OTT platforms, brand collaborations, and reinterpretations of legacy recordings.
This acquisition follows Times Music’s earlier purchases of ARC Musicq and Symphony Recording Co., reinforcing its consistent expansion into regional and devotional music IP. Within the industry, the company is increasingly recognised as a reliable ‘deal closer’ for catalogue-led transactions, particularly in culturally anchored South Asian music segments.
Mr Vineet Jain, managing director, The Times Group, said, “At The Times Group, we have always championed the voices that define India’s cultural fabric and with the acquisition of Catrack; Times Music reaffirms it’s commitment to preserving and powerfully amplifying the rich heritage of Punjabi music worldwide.”
Mandar Thakur, CEO, Times Music, positioned the acquisition as both cultural preservation and commercial activation. He said, “The Catrack catalogue is a cultural treasure that defined an era for Punjabi music lovers. This acquisition strengthens our commitment to preserving and re-energising India’s most iconic music and artists.”
Gaurav Trehan, director, Catrack Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., highlighted execution efficiency and brand alignment, stating, “Times Music is an ideal partner for preserving the legacy of music created by Catrack, and the integrity and speed with which they closed this acquisition is commendable.”
David Loiterton, president, Indo & Asia Pacific, Primary Wave Music, emphasised the broader IP strategy underpinning the deal. He said, “We’re delighted to welcome the legendary music of Catrack to our partnership with Times Music. Catrack is a great example of our pursuit of unique, iconic music IP that can transcend generations and cultures, and we’re looking forward to helping Times Music bring that music to new audiences around the world.”
Times Music continues to operate across four divisions: record label, music publishing, brand solutions, and artist management. The company holds a catalogue spanning over 35 years across Bollywood, indie, pop, rock, regional, spiritual, and film and non-film music. Its Punjabi and South Indian presence is strengthened through an exclusive global distribution partnership with Speed Records, a leading Punjabi label.
Recent activity also includes the streaming success of artist Kunwarr’s track ‘Piche Tere’, which crossed 36 million streams across platforms. Alongside acquisitions, the company has expanded its artist roster, including Deedar Kaur and Aarya, while increasing focus on brand music solutions.
With Catrack now integrated, Times Music strengthens its position in catalogue acquisition, regional IP consolidation, and cross-market exploitation strategies, supported by its joint venture structure with Primary Wave Music, a leading global independent publisher known for managing iconic music estates.
