The Indian music marked a significant growth and a milestone for the creators’ rights, which reported a record royalty distribution of their music amounting to Rs. 600 crore in the year 2024-2025. The figure is the highest and has surpassed the previous royalty distribution. The 600 crores have created a historic royalty distribution that is the highest ever in its history.
Growth of Royalty Distribution in India’s Music Industry
The growing Royalty Distribution indicates and recognises the rights and the awareness of the creator’s rights in the digital age that we are in now. The improvement is also due to the operational and technological aspects within the industry.
The growth has been substantial over the years, with IPRS having seen the royalty growth increasing from 45 crore in the year 2017-2018 to 566 crore from 2022 to 2023. The leap was 65% over the previous financial year. The IPRS distributed royalties to more than 10,000 members, covering both film and non-film music. It is indeed a landmark moment for India’s music industry.
Playback Singers Celebrate Historic Victory
Some of India’s favourite and renowned playback singers, such as Pankaj Udhas, Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, and Alka Yagnik, got together in Mumbai to celebrate the victory. The momentous celebration marks the victory after decade decade-long fight for copyright and royalties.
The ISRA (Indian Singers Rights Association) put together the event to announce the new historic deal with the music label body in the music industry of India. Finally, the IMI (Indian Music Industry) will ensure that the playback singers, musicians and performers will get the royalties for the music they have helped to create. It’s a dream that many like Pankaj Udhas had perceived for many years, which is finally coming true and is a reality now.
The IPRS distributed royalties to more than 10,000 members, covering both film and non-film music. IPRS had significantly elevated its stature in the global music rights ecosystem.
Royalties in India’s Evolving Music Industry
In today’s fast world, the music industry especially sees a diversified and evolving market in a country like India. It is now a necessary step that your rights and royalties are in place, and it’s a legal requirement. Independent artists, composers, and songwriters need to understand their rights and streamline revenue to ensure their work earns its due in India and overseas.
One has to understand the importance of different kinds of music rights. Copyright is the foundation, a right granted to creators of the original work of music. This may include musical and artistic creations.
Copyright covers many rights such as recording, rerecording, reproduction, sale, distribution, public performance, new adaptation, etc. But it doesn’t stop at just the copyright. There’s always a difference between publishing rights and master rights.
Publishing Rights and Master Rights in Music
The songwriter, composer, music director, or publisher typically owns the copyright for a song’s melody and lyrics, governing its use and monetization, while master rights refer to the ownership of original recordings.
In India, the artists have to protect these rights by registering their music with the IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society)It’s a straightforward online process on a portal which gives you an access to be a member where by your songs can be registered and documented officially to ensure your works officially has your copyright and establish your ownership if it is used commercially at a later date.
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