iWorld
Artiste First releases “Khwaab” music video
Mumbai: Artiste First has announced a monumental milestone in their musical journey: “Ishq” has surpassed 100 million streams, 150 million YouTube views, 500 million plus streams on Tik Tok and one billion Instagram audio plays. To mark this special occasion, Artiste First are excited to release the music video for “Khwaab,” a standout track from their acclaimed album, Lost; Found by Faheem Abdullah. This release coincides with the album’s two-month anniversary, which has captivated audiences with its 14 personal and evocative tracks.
“Khwaab” sung by Faheem and Pho beautifully captures the feeling of unrequited love, taking listeners on a heartfelt journey of dealing with emotions that are not returned. This nostalgic rock song, featuring the soulful voices of Faheem Abdullah and Pho, invites listeners to reflect on the bittersweet nature of love.
Faheem Abdullah shared, “Reaching two billion streams for ‘Ishq’ is more than just a number; it shows the strong connection we have with our listeners. ‘Khwaab’ reflects emotions we all feel, and I’m excited for everyone to watch the video.”
Pho added, “I am so happy for the love for ‘Ishq’ and can’t wait for fans to see the story in ‘Khwaab.’ This song is for anyone who has ever loved deeply and felt that love not returned.”
Artiste First curator Rohit Sobti expressed, “Lost: Found is our first curated album from scratch release as label with Faheem and very happy with the love of audience for Ishq & Lost; Found and giving few robust artiste to Industry with Faheem Abdullah, Amir Ameer and Rauhaan Mallick and presenting other rockstars. Khwaab is one the most favorite tracks of the team and audience and we wonder what better way to celebrate by releasing its beautiful music video. It is shot by a young Oun Mehdi and Imbesaat and we are excited to present to you.”
The Lost; Found album represents a journey from feeling “Lost” to being “Found,” symbolised by the semicolon—a pause for self-reflection and discovery. This album features various artists and styles, with each song telling a unique story and offering listeners a chance to heal through music.
iWorld
Anirudh Ravichander and Universal Music India join forces to take South India’s sound to the world
The composer behind 13 billion streams launches Albuquerque Records with UMI as its exclusive global partner
MUMBAI: Universal Music India has struck an exclusive partnership with Albuquerque Records, the freshly minted independent label of singer-composer Anirudh Ravichander, in a deal that bets big on South India’s booming pop and hip-hop scene going global.
The arrangement, announced on 17 March, will see Universal Music India handle future pop and hip-hop releases by Anirudh himself, as well as artists signed to the new label. A first release is already in the pipeline for April, featuring Anirudh.
The numbers behind the man are hard to ignore. Debuting in 2012 with the viral sensation “Why This Kolaveri Di”, Anirudh has since clocked over 13 billion audio streams across more than 770 tracks, cementing his position as the No.1 South Indian artist on Spotify by total streams. His fingerprints are all over some of the Tamil film industry’s biggest musical moments, from Hukum and Vaathi Coming to Arabic Kuthu and the A23 Theme.
But Albuquerque Records is a different beast. Built for the non-film space, it is designed to nurture independent talent and champion the next wave of Indian pop voices. “Universal Music India’s leadership in pop and hip-hop made them the natural partner,” said Anirudh. “I’m excited to take independent voices to audiences around the world.”
Universal Music India’s chairman and CEO Devraj Sanyal was equally effusive. “Anirudh represents the future of Indian music, bold, original, and with enormous potential,” he said. “Identifying transformative talent is our superpower, and this partnership reflects that belief.”
Sanujeet Bhujabal, managing director of Universal Music India, framed the deal as more than a distribution play. “Albuquerque Records represents Anirudh’s bold artistic vision in the world of pop and hip-hop,” he said. “True to his legacy of innovation, this partnership is set to establish yet another landmark creative space, this time for the emerging world of iPop and beyond.”
For Universal Music India, the deal deepens a long-running push into South India’s four key language markets: Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu. The label already has regional imprints, film partnerships with Maddock Films and Excel Entertainment, and a growing non-film roster. Landing Anirudh, arguably the south’s most bankable music brand, is a statement of intent. South Indian music has the streams. Now it is coming for the world.
