EMPIRE Partners Zee Music Company To Take Indian Music Global

Independent label, distributor and publisher EMPIRE has entered into a strategic global partnership with Zee Music Company, in a move aimed at accelerating the international reach of Indian music.

Under the agreement, EMPIRE will distribute Zee Music Company’s extensive catalogue across streaming platforms outside India, while both companies collaborate on cross-border creative initiatives. These include global remixes of Indian tracks, sampling projects that merge Zee’s repertoire with EMPIRE’s international artist roster, and joint marketing campaigns spanning Africa, West Asia and 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 Shami, Founder and CEO of EMPIRE. “Partnering with Zee Music Co. allows us to further strengthen the reach for Indian music worldwide.”

Founded in 2014, Zee Music Company has rapidly emerged as a dominant force in Bollywood and independent music. The partnership is expected to boost the label’s global consumption and visibility, particularly among the Indian diaspora and new international audiences.

“I see this partnership as a strategic step toward expanding Zee Music Company’s global footprint,” said Sujal Parekh, Chief Business Officer at Zee Music Co., highlighting the growing global demand for Indian repertoire.

The deal arrives amid heightened global interest in India’s music market. Major international players have been ramping up their presence, including HYBE, which launched operations in Mumbai in 2025, and Universal Music India and Warner Music India, both of which have expanded through acquisitions and strategic partnerships.

According to an EY-FICCI report, India added nearly four million paid music streaming subscribers in 2025, taking the total to 14.4 million, underscoring both the scale and untapped potential of the market.

For EMPIRE, the Zee Music Company deal marks another step in its ongoing global expansion strategy. The San Francisco-headquartered company, founded in 2010, has built a diverse international footprint, working with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Bebe Rexha, Fireboy DML, Asake and Anderson .Paak.

“India and South Asia represent the next great frontier in the global music economy,” said Faryal Khan-Thompson, VP of Global Market Strategy & Development – South Asia at EMPIRE. “By applying our global expertise, we aim to expand Zee’s worldwide footprint and bring Indian culture to new audiences.”

Zee Music Company executives also emphasised the role of innovation and speed in the label’s rise. “Our goal now is to ensure that the rest of the world experiences the depth of our catalogue,” said Saurabh Shah, Senior Vice President, Video Partnerships & Digital Monetisation.

As global music consumption becomes increasingly borderless, the EMPIRE–Zee Music Company alliance signals a broader shift: Indian music is no longer just travelling, it is being strategically positioned for worldwide scale.