Independent label, distributor, and publisher EMPIRE has struck a strategic global partnership with Zee Music Company, one of India’s largest record labels, in a deal designed “to take Indian music to a global stage”.
Under the deal, EMPIRE will distribute Zee Music Co.’s catalog across streaming platforms outside of India, while the two companies will also collaborate on cross-border creative projects.
Those projects will include global remixes of Indian hits, sampling initiatives that integrate Zee Music Co.’s catalog with EMPIRE’s roster of talent worldwide, and joint marketing campaigns across regions including Africa, West Asia/North Africa (WANA), East Asia, and Latin America.
“At EMPIRE, our mission has always been to provide access to vibrant local music ecosystems to reach the global stage,” said Ghazi, CEO and Founder of EMPIRE.
“Partnering with Zee Music Co — a company that has shown incredible momentum and an entrepreneurial spirit similar to our own — allows us to further strengthen the reach for Indian music worldwide.”
“At EMPIRE, our mission has always been to provide access to vibrant local music ecosystems to reach the global stage.”
Ghazi, EMPIRE
The partnership is designed to increase Zee Music Co.’s catalog consumption and brand visibility among the global Indian diaspora and new international audiences.
Zee Music Company was established in 2014 and has grown rapidly to become a dominant force in Bollywood and independent Indian music.
The deal comes amid continued global interest in India’s music market.
A number of prominent music companies have made moves in the market in recent months. South Korean entertainment giant HYBE, for example, expanded into India in September 2025, opening its fifth global headquarters in Mumbai, while Reservoir launched a new Indian subsidiary, PopIndia, last year.
The major music companies also continue to deepen their presence in the market. Universal Music India acquired a 30% stake in Bollywood production house Excel Entertainment in January, in a deal that valued the company at approximately $267 million, and in March formed an exclusive partnership with Albuquerque Records, the new label from Indian singer and composer Anirudh Ravichander. Warner Music India, which launched in 2020, has continued to expand through deals including a global distribution partnership with Ultra Music India.
WMG also holds a majority stake in Divo, a Southern India-based company, and acquired artist management firm E-Positive. Warner Music India has also invested in SkillBox, a live entertainment platform.
The country added nearly 4 million paid music streaming subscriptions in 2025, taking its total to 14.4 million, according to a joint report from EY and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) — though that still represented only around 8% of the 178 million people who streamed music in the country that year.
The Zee Music Company deal marks the latest in a series of global expansion moves for EMPIRE, the San Francisco-headquartered independent label, distributor, and publisher founded by Ghazi in 2010.
The company has worked with artists including Kendrick Lamar, Bebe Rexha, Fireboy DML, Shaboozey, Asake, and Anderson .Paak.
In July, EMPIRE launched in the Nordic region with the appointment of former Spotify editor Iman Hazheer as Territory Manager across Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland.
Earlier this year, EMPIRE struck a multi-year deal with Cambodian music company Baramey Production, and in October 2024 it appointed Jeffrey Yoo as SVP, East Asia, simultaneously signing Korean superstar G-Dragon as its first artist in the region.
The company launched EMPIRE Africa in 2022, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, following the earlier establishment of a division focused on West Asia, North Africa, and its diaspora.
EMPIRE’s South Asia push has been led by Faryal Khan-Thompson, VP of Global Market Strategy & Development.
“I see this partnership with EMPIRE as a strategic step toward expanding Zee Music Company’s global footprint.”
Sujal Parekh, Zee Music
Commenting on the deal, Sujal Parekh, Chief Business Officer at Zee Music Co., said: “Indian music today has unprecedented global potential, fueled by streaming adoption, the strength of India’s cultural storytelling, and the growing demand for diverse repertoire worldwide.
“I see this partnership with EMPIRE as a strategic step toward expanding Zee Music Company’s global footprint. By combining our deep and diverse catalogue with EMPIRE’s international distribution network and market expertise, we aim to unlock new audiences, accelerate global catalogue monetization, and enable meaningful cross-cultural collaborations that create long-term value for artists, partners, and the company.”
“Our focus has always been on innovation and speed, and that has allowed us to become a significant force in India in a very short time. Now, our goal is to ensure that the rest of the world experiences the depth of our catalog.”
Saurabh Shah, Zee Music
Saurabh Shah, Senior Vice President Video Partnerships & Digital Monetisation of Zee Music Company, added: “Our focus has always been on innovation and speed, and that has allowed us to become a significant force in India in a very short time. Now, our goal is to ensure that the rest of the world experiences the depth of our catalog.
“Partnering with EMPIRE is a natural fit because they understand how to break cultural barriers. This collaboration will significantly increase our global footprint and allow our artists to reach fans on platforms they’ve never engaged with before.”
“India and South Asia represent the next great frontier in the global music economy and Zee Music is leading the charge.”
Faryal Khan-Thompson, EMPIRE
Faryal Khan-Thompson, VP of Global Market Strategy & Development — South Asia, EMPIRE, said: “India and South Asia represent the next great frontier in the global music economy and Zee Music is leading the charge.
“By applying our global expertise — from Africa to LATAM to WANA — EMPIRE will help expand Zee’s worldwide footprint. We’re looking forward to a dynamic and reciprocal partnership to bring Indian and South Asian culture to new heights.”Music Business Worldwide
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