Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, is today launching in collaboration with Bollywood’s top film director Mohit Suri a new label, EMI Records India. A unique venture that marks the return of the world famous EMI label to India, the new company is the first ever association between a major record label and an eminent Bollywood film director that will develop a new platform that cuts across film and non–film musical genres.

With the two partners’ unrivalled music and entertainment business experience and their extensive track records of discovering and investing in new artists and music, Universal Music and Mohit Suri will jointly identify both new and established talent to join EMI Records India. The label will provide its artists with a multi-faceted platform for creative development, giving them an opportunity to showcase their talent and build a successful career in music. EMI Records India will be home to a wide spectrum of musical talent, including singers, musicians and other performers as well as composers, lyricists, producers and DJs.

Says Devraj Sanyal Managing Director and CEO, Universal Music Group South Asia, “We’re immensely proud of our new partnership with Mohit Suri to bring EMI Records back to India. Mohit has been responsible for some of the biggest Bollywood hits of all time and A&R is right at the heart of Universal Music so this collaboration is the perfect platform for blending our complementary strengths and our shared love of music. Too often in India there has been a huge gulf between film and non-film music but now with EMI Records India we are creating a new label to bridge that divide and invest in artists across all areas of their careers from mainstream Bollywood cinema through to Universal Music India’s rapidly growing live, branded content, endorsements and merchandising businesses.”

Commenting on the association Mohit Suri says, “Music and independent artists have been the backbone of my career ever since I started 10 years back. I strongly believe that the music composers, lyricists and singers that I have worked with from all over the world have been the stars of my life.  This collaboration with Devraj and his team at Universal Music is the most organic synergy of like-minded people that allows me to continue exploring my love for music on a larger scale. With our joint expertise we will make EMI Records India a dependable brand through which we will launch and nurture musical talent and simply let the music play. Culturally, Music has always played an integral role in our lives, particularly through the Indian Film Industry popularly known as `Bollywood’. Now, armed with expertise in both businesses - music and film, EMI Records India will soon carve out its own space in the world of music and entertainment.”