Universal Music India forms exclusive partnership with Anirudh Ravichander’s new label Albuquerque Records

·       Universal Music India named as exclusive partner to new label Albuquerque Records established by trailblazing artist Anirudh Ravichander for non-film releases.
·        Global agreement supports Universal Music India’s growing presence in pop and hip-hop, genres associated with some of the most influential names in the South Indian market.
Universal Music India, a division of Universal Music Group, the world leader in music based entertainment, today announces an exclusive partnership with Albuquerque Records – the independent record label recently launched by singer-composer Anirudh Ravichander. The partnership will see Universal Music India and Albuquerque Records release future pop and hip hop music by Anirudh Ravichander, and future artists signed to the label. The first release under the label is planned to release early April featuring Anirudh.
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The global partnership will see Universal Music India work closely with Albuquerque Records to expand the influence of Anirudh’s artistry. In time the label will become home to emerging pop and hip-hop artists from the region.
Anirudh’s track record over the last 15 years has been enviable and unparalleled. Debuting as a composer in 2012 with his global viral hit ‘Why This Kolaveri Di’, he has amassed over 13 billion audio streams across his over 770 + tracks, making him the No.1 South Indian artist on Spotify in terms of total streams.  Additionally, he is one of the most coveted composers in the Tamil Original Soundtrack (OST) space, with many global chart topping successes, including Hukum, Vaathi Coming, Arabic Kuthu, Monica ,A23 Theme, Aaja Raja, Aya Sher and more.
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Universal Music India has maintained a steady focus on the South Indian region, working closely with the  rich artistry and culture which spans the four key south language markets (Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu). The arrangement with Anirudh, one of the region's most accomplished artists, will help further the presence of groundbreaking music from this region on the global stage. Additionally, it further expands Universal Music India’s presence in pop and hip-hop, genres associated with some of the most influential names in the South Indian market.
Commenting on the partnership Devraj Sanyal, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music India; SVP Strategy, AMEA, said: ‘Anirudh represents the future of Indian music  bold, original, and with enormous potential. At Universal Music India, identifying transformative talent is our superpower, and this partnership reflects that belief. We’re proud to stand behind Anirudh as he embarks on his next chapter, and helps take more Indian music to the world.’
Anirudh Ravichander commented: “Albuquerque Records was built to be an artist-backed, homegrown label focused on nurturing independent talent and taking their sound to the global stage. Universal Music India’s leadership in pop and hip-hop made them the natural partner. I’m excited to champion the next wave of Indian independent voices and take them to audiences around the world.”
Sanujeet Bhujabal, MD Universal Music India said: ‘Anirudh has long been a defining force in shaping the creative landscape beyond music. Alongside his stellar track record of innumerable hit songs for films, he commands a phenomenal fanbase that engages deeply with his creative output. Albuquerque Records represents Anirudh’s bold artistic vision in the world of pop and hip‑hop. True to his legacy of innovation, this partnership is set to establish yet another landmark creative space this time for the emerging world of iPop and beyond’. About Universal Music India
Universal Music India Pvt. Ltd. (UMIPL) is a 100% subsidiary of the Universal Music Group (UMG) and is home to record labels such as A&M Records, Blue Note Records, Capitol Records, Capitol Records Nashville, Caroline, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Emarcy, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group, Virgin Records, Virgin EMI Records. UMIPL has an extremely rich Indian catalogue comprising songs from classic Hindi and Regional Films, Indipop, Bhangra, Ghazals and Devotional. Its enviable catalogue includes artists such as Asha Bhosle, Anup Jalota, Bombay Vikings, Jagjit Singh, JoSh, Malkit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Panjabi MC, Raghav, Mohit Chouhan, Euphoria, Adnan Sami, Rabbi Shergill, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to name a few. UMIPL’s `film’ catalogue (the 2nd largest in India) spans music from blockbusters such as Sholay, Qurbani, Amar Akbar Anthony, Chori ChoriChupke Chupke, Devdas and Munnabhai MBBS amongst the numerous jewels which symbolize the musical journey from the 70’s to date. On the International music front, UMIPL is the clear market leader with artists such as ABBA, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Enrique Iglesias, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, The Beatles, UB40, Deep Purple, Enigma, Norah Jones, Deadmau5, The Chemical Brothers, amongst a host of others, popular music icons and household names in India. 
Universal Music India (UMI), after playing a pioneering role in building and mainstreaming the culture of non-film music in India, continues to lead the category with the largest and most diverse non-film music roster in the region across domestic pop, hip-hop, dance and regional language genres. Its flagship labels VYRL Originals (domestic pop) and Def Jam India (hip-hop) are widely regarded as market leaders within the non-film ecosystem, while IndieA Records serves as an enablement platform empowering the next generation of independent artists.
UMI’s strategic expansion into regional music has further strengthened its leadership position. With the launch of in-house regional imprints VYRL Punjabi, VYRL Haryanvi, and VYRL Bhojpuri, has placed the company at the forefront of the North Indian non-film space. In the South, VYRL South, a dedicated iPOP label focuses on original Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam music, and have also forayed into a strategic investments with Five Star Audio.
Through its artist and label services arm, UMI has built a robust distribution and partnership network, representing 13 artists under Represent and collaborating with Desi Melodies, Happy Music, Kripa Records, Pentertainment 0075 (Badshah) (2025), Gully Gang (Divine), AP Dhillon (ICLA), and First.wav — reinforcing its position as a full-spectrum music company spanning frontline releases, catalog and independent distribution.
Universal Music India has also expanded its business footprint with the acquisition of a majority stake in TM Ventures, one of India’s leading music and entertainment companies. Through Universal Music Group for Brands (UMG&B), the group’s specialist brand partnerships division, UMI delivers culture-led brand solutions, with Coke Studio Bharat emerging as one of its marquee music-led brand properties celebrating India’s rich sonic diversity.
Building on its leadership in non-film music, Universal Music India has strategically stepped into the film and OST ecosystem through partnerships with leading production houses such as Maddock Films and Excel Entertainment, serving as a strategic music partner and shaping the soundscape of contemporary Indian cinema.