MUMBAI: With an aim to search new talent and promote them, Universal Music and Mohit Suri have joined hands to launch a new record label EMI Records India. The first batch of artistes signed under the newly formed label is Anmol Malik and Ami Mishra.
With this announcement, EMI makes a comeback in the Indian market. Commenting on the EMI comeback, Universal Music Group South Asia MD and CEO Devraj Sanyal said, “It is definitely a comeback for EMI. We already own the label and this actually creates the bridge between film and non film music. The birth of EMI Records India is a comeback of a very renowned global brand.” The newly formed record will cover wide spectrum of musical talents like singers, songwriters, composers, lyricists, music producers and DJs.
Commenting on the association with Suri, Sanyal said, “EMI Records India is the first vehicle in the country and in the region that will strike a balance between independent music and Bollywood music. In four years of my career, I have never seen a medium that bridges a gap between Bollywood and indie space, therefore, we constructed EMI Records to connect both the space. For this, we need the best A&R persona and for me, it could be none other than Mohit Suri. His understanding of music will help us find one talent which will represent India at a global level.”
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Adding to the association, Suri stated that A&R is something that he has been doing all his life. “Being in the entertainment space, it is natural for me develop talents and work with them. The role at EMI Records India allows me to channelise the ability of the music talents in the best possible way.” However, this partnership will not affect his partnerships or association with other labels in the country. He will work closely with Sanyal and his team at Universal Music Group.
The label has not revealed the number of artistes to be signed this year. However, the music label has signed ‘Nagin Nagin’ singer Anmol Malik and ‘Hamari Adhuri Kahani’ singer-composer Ami Mishra. The label will look after their artistes’ endorsements, merchandise, personal appearances and concerts. According to Sanyal, EMI Records India will be the content supplier to the other labels.
Talking about being a competitor for the other labels, who now ventured into talent management, Sanyal said, “We have been in talent management from the time I have joined Universal in 2011. Every year we do 400-600 shows. In 2012-13, we did more than 600 shows. We have been in the business for a long time and this is a natural extension for us because at the end of the day Bollywood music is a popular form of music in the country,” he added. According to Sanyal, Universal Music is the only company that has a fully fledged A& R team for a very long time and having Mohit Suri will be an icing on the cake.
