Zee Music Company

Zee Music Company is an Indian music label established in 2014 and part of Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It is one of India's largest record labels, with a catalog of more than 500 Zee Music Originals and over 18,000 songs across 22 languages. The label has 164 million subscribers across all its YouTube channels. In 2026, Zee Music signed veteran singer-songwriter Adnan Sami for a series of original non-film singles, expanding its roster beyond film soundtracks. In 2025, EMPIRE struck a strategic global partnership with Zee Music to distribute its catalog outside of India, excluding Spotify, YouTube, Apple, Meta, and Amazon Music (which are handled by Universal Music Group).

Zee Music Company was established in 2014 and has grown rapidly to become a dominant force in Bollywood and independent Indian music. Its catalog includes more than 500 Zee Music Originals released over the past decade, many by popular Hindi film composers and playback singers. The label's 2026 signing of Adnan Sami represents a shift toward long-term artist engagements for non-film singles, rather than the song deals that have dominated its catalog. On the film front, the label has major soundtracks in its bank, including the multi-composer OST for the upcoming Kannada-language film Toxic, the Rs600 crore (approximately $65 million) budget of which makes it among the most expensive Indian films ever made.

How Zee Music Operates

Zee Music Company runs dedicated A&R within Zee Entertainment Enterprises from its Mumbai headquarters. Its distribution is split: Universal Music Group distributes Zee Music's catalog on Spotify globally, while EMPIRE distributes the catalog on Deezer, Anghami, and other platforms outside of India. The label's strength is its rapid growth since 2014, its 18,000-plus song catalog across 22 languages, and its 2025 EMPIRE partnership for global expansion. The EMPIRE partnership includes cross-border creative projects such as global remixes of Indian hits and sampling initiatives that integrate Zee Music's catalog with EMPIRE's roster worldwide.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you make Bollywood, Indi-pop, or regional Indian music, Zee Music Company is one of India's largest record labels, with a rapidly growing catalog and a 2025 EMPIRE partnership for global distribution. Its 2026 signing of Adnan Sami for non-film singles shows it is expanding beyond film soundtracks into artist development. Its 22-language catalog gives it reach across India's diverse regional music markets.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Bollywood and Indian focus: Zee Music primarily signs Bollywood and Indian regional music. International artists may find it less relevant.
• No unsolicited demos: Zee Music does not accept cold submissions.
• Split distribution: Zee Music's distribution is split between UMG (Spotify) and EMPIRE (other platforms outside India), which can complicate global release strategies.
• Film soundtrack focus: Much of Zee Music's catalog is film soundtracks. Non-film artists may find less support.

Notable Artists and Releases

Videos

Deal Structures

Zee Music Company operates as a subsidiary of Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The label primarily offers film soundtrack deals (licensing or acquisition of music rights for Bollywood and regional Indian films) and, more recently, artist development deals for non-film singles (such as the 2026 Adnan Sami deal). Distribution is split: Universal Music Group handles Spotify globally, while EMPIRE handles Deezer, Anghami, and other platforms outside India. The 2025 EMPIRE partnership includes cross-border creative projects such as global remixes of Indian hits and sampling initiatives that integrate Zee Music's catalog with EMPIRE's roster worldwide. The label does not typically offer traditional recording contracts to individual artists, focusing instead on film soundtrack acquisitions and selective non-film artist deals.

How Artists Get Signed

Zee Music Company does not accept unsolicited demos. The label signs artists and acquires soundtrack rights through its A&R operations within Zee Entertainment Enterprises, led by chief business officer Umesh Kumar Bansal. Film soundtrack deals are negotiated with film production companies and composers. Non-film artist deals (such as the 2026 Adnan Sami signing) are handled through direct A&R outreach and industry networks. The label's 100 million-plus YouTube subscribers (crossed in 2025, making it only the second music label globally to receive YouTube's Red Diamond Play Button) and 18,000-plus song catalog across 22 languages give it significant market presence. Artists seeking to work with Zee Music typically need established profiles in the Indian music industry or connections to film production companies.

Similar Labels

• T-Series - India's largest music label and direct competitor
• Sony Music Entertainment - Global major with Indian operations
• Universal Music Group - Distribution partner for Zee Music on Spotify
• Empire Distribution - Global distribution partner outside India

Related Resources

• Record Label Contracts Explained - What a Zee Music deal contains
• How to Get a Record Deal in 2026 - Building a Bollywood music profile
• Music Publishing Explained - Indian publishing structures
• T-Series - A competing Indian label
• Zee Music Company Official Site - Catalog and news