MUMBAI: As part of its label revamp, music major Universal has roped in Bangladesh’s renowned rock musician, Hassan.
Hassan, who has a formidable fan following in his home country, has been signed on by Universal on a three year contract. Part of a well known band Ark in the early nineties, Hassan went on to later form another band Jonmobhumi. Universal now plans to cut solo albums with the song writer- singer star as well as get him into mainstream Hindi, including Bollywood.
Ark was one of the first bands to popularise rock music in Bangladesh, and Hassan is credited with being ‘pillar of Bangla rock’, says Universal’s newly inducted Vice President – Content Artiste and Repertoire Rajeeta Hemwani.This is probably the first time that a Bangladeshi artiste has been signed on for a long term contract by an Indian music label. Universal Music, that has been lying low for a while, plans to induct a slew of new artistes into its fold, in an attempt to ‘create new sound’. To begin with, the label will promote Hassan aggressively, both in the commercial rock genre as well as in the Hindi film industry.