Universal acquires Oriental Star Agencies (OSA)
Universal Music Group has acquired one of the biggest South Asian record labels set-up in the UK.
The deal includes all of the label’s recordings and where held, publishing rights. The acquisition is another demonstration of UMG’s strategy to accelerate its growth in high potential music markets around the world.
Oriental Star Agencies (OSA) was set-up in 1969 by Mohammed Ayyub in Balsall Heath. Ayyub was awarded an MBE honour for service to broadcasting, Asian music and community services. In 2017 the OSA Ltd owners finalised a sale to Hi-Tech Music Ltd, another British record label with a strong history spanning 35 years.
Highlights in the catalogue include Malkit Singh (who became the top-selling Bhangra artist worldwide with nearly 5 million album sales), Bally Sagoo, Attaullah Khan and legendary GRAMMY nominated artist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who has recorded over 125 albums. In 2002, the music of OSA Ltd found a fresh audience when several label tracks were featured on the ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ soundtrack.
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Adam Granite, Executive Vice President of Market Development at Universal Music Group said, “This acquisition of a hugely successful and iconic British-Asian label specialising in South Asian music will further increase Universal Music Group’s exposure to, and participation in, a fast growing and rapidly changing market. I am particularly pleased that Universal Music Group will become the next custodian of Oriental Star Agencies, a label that has played an unparalleled role in bridging the musical identities of the UK and South Asia, taking the unique sounds of its artists to a broad audience. We believe this catalogue has huge potential, and look forward to taking it to the next generation of music fans globally.”
Mohammed Twaseen (Chino), OSA Ltd, said, “This is a momentous day for OSA and all our artists. Becoming part of the UMG family will turbo-charge our South Asian music, helping it to get in front of more music fans across the world. The past decade has seen a true global explosion of music from the region, and now, under UMG’s stewardship, the next decade promises to be even more exciting.”
