iWorld
Zee Music Company signs Adnan Sami, QARAN to expand original music push
The label deepens its bet on artist-led music with a non-film deal with Adnan Sami and a new partnership with pop producer QARAN
MUMBAI: Zee Music Company is widening its push into original, artist-led music, signing composer-singer-pianist Adnan Sami for exclusive non-film releases while onboarding contemporary pop producer QARAN to its growing roster.
Launched in 2014, the label has built one of India’s largest music catalogues spanning Bollywood soundtracks and independent music. The latest signings mark a sharper tilt towards non-film originals as the company seeks to expand its presence in the rapidly evolving pop landscape.
Padma Shri awardee Adnan Sami joins the label for a new slate of non-film singles, opening a fresh creative chapter in a career that has shaped Indian pop for more than three decades. The singer-composer is behind defining hits such as Lift Karade, Kabhi To Nazar Milao, Tera Chehra and Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein. Among his global milestones, Sami became the first Asian artist to sell out London’s Wembley Arena for two consecutive nights, a breakthrough moment for South Asian musicians on the international stage.
Under the deal with Zee Music Company, Sami will release a series of original singles, returning to the melodic sound that once dominated India’s pop charts.
Alongside him, the label has also signed QARAN, one of the architects of India’s modern urban pop sound. Known for blending Indian melodies with global production styles, the producer has delivered hits such as Haaye Oye and the breakout crossover Tareefan, widely seen as a defining pop track of the past decade.
Sujal Parekh, chief business officer at Zee Music Company, said the label is entering “a defining phase”. “We’re expanding our vision beyond film soundtracks to build a dynamic platform for artist-led music. Welcoming Adnan Sami is a proud moment given his extraordinary legacy across generations. Our collaboration with QARAN reflects our commitment to nurturing the next wave of Indian artists and taking Indian music to audiences worldwide.”
Adnan Sami said the partnership marks a new creative direction. “Music has always been about evolution and connection for me. I’m delighted to begin this new musical chapter with Zee Music Company. The partnership gives me the freedom to explore new genres while staying true to melody. I’m excited by the support for my artistic vision and we’re already working on fresh music. See you on the wild side.”
QARAN said the moment was ripe for Indian pop to travel globally. “Indian pop music is entering a new era where it can move across borders while staying rooted in its sound. With Zee Music Company’s scale and vision, I’m excited to push that sound forward and build bridges between Indian music and the rest of the world. New music coming soon.”
Adnan Sami is co-managed by Exceed Entertainment and Big Bad Wolf, while QARAN is exclusively represented by Big Bad Wolf.
With new releases from both artists already in development, Zee Music Company is turning up the volume on independent music—and signalling that the next big hits may arrive far beyond the film soundtrack.
iWorld
OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk’s lawsuit ahead of trial
Company calls claims “baseless” and accuses Musk of trying to disrupt a rival.
MUMBAI: When the stakes are measured in billions and egos are involved, even Silicon Valley titans can turn a courtroom into a battlefield. OpenAI has issued a sharp public response to Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit, accusing the billionaire of filing the case to harass a competitor rather than address genuine concerns. In a strongly worded statement shared on its official X account, OpenAI described Musk’s allegations as “baseless” and suggested the lawsuit is an attempt to disrupt the company as the case heads toward trial later this month in Oakland, California.
The response comes after Musk’s legal team recently amended the complaint, proposing that any damages potentially exceeding $150 billion should go to OpenAI’s nonprofit entity rather than to Musk personally. OpenAI questioned the timing and motive behind this change, calling it a late-stage attempt to “pretend to change his tune” on the nonprofit structure.
The company further labelled the lawsuit a “harassment campaign”, arguing that Musk’s actions are driven by personal rivalry, ego, and a desire for greater control and financial upside.
At the heart of the dispute is Musk’s claim that OpenAI has abandoned its original nonprofit mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. A co-founder who left in 2018, Musk is seeking governance changes, including the removal of CEO Sam Altman from the nonprofit board, and the return of certain financial gains linked to Altman and President Greg Brockman.
OpenAI has firmly rejected these allegations, maintaining that its current hybrid structure, a public-benefit corporation overseen by a nonprofit parent remains true to its long-term goals. The company has also previously accused Musk of anti-competitive behaviour aimed at weakening its leadership.
As the case prepares for a jury trial, this public exchange highlights the deepening rift between two of the most influential figures in the AI revolution and raises broader questions about governance, mission, and power in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.
In the high-stakes game of AI, it seems the real drama isn’t just inside the models, it’s playing out in courtrooms too.
