New Delhi: India’s two biggest production houses have entered the independent music business with the launch of their own record labels. While Farhan Akhtar recently announced Excel Music in partnership with Universal Music India, Yash Raj Films, or YRF, has unveiled Raah Records to discover new talent.
Excel Entertainment, owned by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, on Monday officially announced the launch of Excel Music. In a post on X, Akhtar said that the label aims to help artists and creators shape the “soundtrack of tomorrow.”
“Some artists are remembered, some songs are never forgotten. Today, those words come together. Introducing Excel Music. Built on a legacy of storytelling and driven by a passion for music, we’re partnering with exceptional artists and creators to shape the soundtrack of tomorrow,” he wrote.
The announcement builds on the long-standing association between Excel Entertainment and the global music giant Universal Music Group, which already holds a stake in the production house. The new label marks Akhtar’s first dedicated step into the independent music space.
On Tuesday, the label released its first song, ‘Do Numbari’, from the soundtrack of Mirzapur: The Movie. The high-energy track is written and sung by Dhana Nyoliwala, who officially makes his Bollywood debut after rising to prominence in the Haryanvi music industry. The film is scheduled to release in Hindi and Telugu on 4 September.
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‘A defining phase’
Meanwhile, Yash Raj Films has long shaped Bollywood’s musical landscape through blockbuster film soundtracks. But with the launch of Raah Records, the studio is making a significant shift from creating songs for films to investing in artists whose music exists beyond cinema.
The label will debut with singer-songwriter Aman’s first single, Jaadugari, signalling YRF’s ambition to build an artist-first music ecosystem. The song will release on 5 August.
Raah Records aims to give emerging musicians access to the kind of infrastructure, creative development, marketing and distribution that major film studios have traditionally reserved for movie soundtracks.
Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films, said the label represents an important strategic expansion of YRF’s music business.
“As India’s independent music ecosystem enters a defining phase of growth, we believe great artists need more than distribution. They need belief, time and long-term creative partnerships,” he said in a statement.
He added that Raah Records is built around careers, not campaigns, and will provide world-class artist development, marketing, and distribution to help original artists build long-lasting careers.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)