Excel Music has launched in India as a Bollywood-focused label backed by Universal Music Group (UMG), seven months after UMG acquired a 30% stake in Indian production house Excel Entertainment. The label will serve as the dedicated music arm of Excel Entertainment, the studio behind Dil Chahta Hai, Rock On!! and Gully Boy.
Under the January agreement, Universal gained global distribution rights for all future original soundtracks from projects owned or controlled by Excel, to be released through the new label. Universal Music Publishing Group is Excel Music’s exclusive publishing partner, enabling its songwriters and catalogue to be placed in the studio’s productions.
Inaugural release: Mirzapur: The Movie#
The label’s first project is the soundtrack to Mirzapur: The Movie, a feature film based on Excel’s popular crime drama web series. The debut single, ‘Do Numbari’, was released last week by Haryanvi hip-hop artist Dhanda Nyoliwala, who is signed to Universal. The track marks his first appearance in a Bollywood film.
Strategic partnership#
Sanujeet Bhujabal, managing director of Universal Music Group India and South Asia, said: “Leveraging Universal Music’s global artist roster, iconic catalogue, and world-class marketing and distribution capabilities, we look forward to taking Excel Music to audiences across India and around the world.”
Excel Music’s output will not be limited to soundtracks and scores from Excel Entertainment’s own slate. The label will also release music from films by other leading filmmakers and production houses across India.
