Universal Music India Signs Exclusive Deal With Anirudh Ravichander’s Albuquerque Records

Universal Music India, a division of Universal Music Group, has announced an exclusive partnership with Albuquerque Records, the newly launched label by Anirudh Ravichander.

Under the agreement, both entities will collaborate on the release of future pop and hip-hop music from Anirudh, as well as upcoming artists signed to Albuquerque Records. The first release under the label is slated for early April and will feature Anirudh himself.

The global partnership will see Universal Music India work closely with Albuquerque Records to expand the reach and influence of Anirudh’s artistry, while gradually building the label into a platform for emerging pop and hip-hop talent from the region.

Anirudh Ravichander’s rise over the past decade has been marked by consistent commercial and cultural success. Since debuting with the viral hit Why This Kolaveri Di, he has amassed over 13 billion audio streams across more than 770 tracks, making him the most-streamed South Indian artist on Spotify. His catalogue includes several global chart-toppers such as Hukum, Vaathi Coming, and Arabic Kuthu, cementing his position as a leading composer in the Tamil original soundtrack space.

The move aligns with Universal Music India’s continued focus on the South Indian market, spanning Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu music ecosystems. The partnership with Anirudh is expected to further amplify regional music on a global stage, while also strengthening the company’s footprint in pop and hip-hop—genres that continue to see growing influence in the South.

Commenting on the partnership, Devraj Sanyal, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music India and SVP Strategy for AMEA, said Anirudh represents the future of Indian music and highlighted the company’s commitment to backing transformative talent with global potential.

Anirudh Ravichander noted that Albuquerque Records was conceived as an artist-led, homegrown label aimed at nurturing independent talent and taking Indian music to global audiences. He added that Universal Music India’s leadership in pop and hip-hop made it a natural partner for this vision.

Sanujeet Bhujabal, Managing Director of Universal Music India, emphasised Anirudh’s influence beyond film music, noting that the new label represents a bold step into the evolving pop and hip-hop ecosystem. He added that the collaboration is poised to create a new creative space for emerging “iPop” talent.

The partnership marks a strategic push to bridge independent artistry with global distribution capabilities, positioning both Universal Music India and Albuquerque Records at the forefront of India’s next wave of music innovation.