London-based South Asian culture platform Dialled In has launched Dialled In Records in partnership with The Collective, an A&R imprint within Universal Music Group U.K.’s Island-EMI, as first reported by Variety’s Naman Ramachandran.
This move formalises Dialled In’s expansion into recorded music after five years of operating across live programming, touring and artist development. The partnership gives the platform access to global label infrastructure while allowing it to retain its focus on nurturing South Asian talent.
Among the first signings is Excise Dept, a New Delhi- and Mumbai-based collective working across electronic music, rap and multilingual vocals. Their inclusion signals a deliberate focus on artists based within the subcontinent rather than only diaspora markets.
For India’s independent electronic and alternative scenes, which remain fragmented and lightly serviced by major label systems, this kind of access is still limited. The deal allows an India-based act to be placed within an international label framework without requiring relocation.
The other launch signing is Ahadadream, a Karachi-born, U.K.-raised producer gaining visibility in the British club circuit. His debut single “Bass Dhol,” featuring Skrillex and Raf Saperra, sets the early direction for the label.
Co-founder Dhruva Balram has positioned the label as an extension of the network Dialled In has built over the past five years. The platform has programmed across venues and institutions including Glastonbury Festival, the Barbican Centre and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The label builds on this foundation by adding a recorded music layer to an already established audience and artist pipeline.
The structure points to an imprint-style relationship focused on A&R and development, with UMG handling scale.
For India, a few clear signals emerge:
- India-based acts are being signed directly, without relying on diaspora entry points
- Alternative and electronic-led projects are finding international pathways
- Cultural platforms are beginning to function as A&R pipelines for major labels
India’s independent sector has grown across distribution and live experiences, but direct integration into global label systems remains limited. Setups like this sit between distribution deals and traditional signings, combining development support with international reach.
The label will be marked at Dialled In’s fifth anniversary festival in London on May 30, a multi-venue event expected to host around 3,000 attendees.
