MUMBAI: Despite the challenges, Indie scene is growing and label companies like Universal Music India are leaving no stone unturned to give the space the same respect that it deserves.

Universal Music India and SAARC and South Asia EMI managing director Devraj Sanyal told Radioandmusic.com, “It is very difficult to hold on to the non-bollywood space since it needs a lot of enthusiasm and fresh air. But we are committed to indie scene, which will become a big sizable business.” He strongly believes that Indie will give some competition to Bollywood. “We are expecting Indie space to achieve around 30 per cent of the market share.”

He also emphasised that Universal music India would be looking at making live space even more exciting in the coming years. Sanyal also mentioned the figures a band like Coshish achieved. He said, “In the Nokia Music store, we have Indian Band Coshish trending. In a week, we sold 2000 CD’s. The future is bright and the future is Indie.”

Sanyal is also the frontman of a heavy metal band ‘Brahma’. He said, “I treat the artistes with the same respect I never got for 17 years of being in the other side.”

On asked what keeps him away from Bollywood, he said, “Bollywood has no business model thus currently there is no scope of exploring. For past three years I have been told to invest in Bollywood by global offices but I am waiting for the right time."

Sanyal has similar plans with EMI catalogue that he has for Universal India. Right now, 14 people from EMI team have joined Universal India- almost half are the top level management. Sanyal emphasised that EMI would be making the same profit Universal India.