India's music industry is experiencing a period of unprecedented financial growth, yet this boom is shadowed by a critical structural imbalance that threatens its future. According to the recently released CISAC Global Collections Report 2025, revenues for music creators in India surged by a remarkable 40.5% in 2024, reaching EUR 80.5 million (approximately ₹741.6 crore). This performance cements India's position as one of the world's fastest-growing music markets, a trajectory fueled almost entirely by the digital revolution.
The Digital Engine Driving Growth
The report highlights that digital platforms, primarily music streaming services, are the powerhouse behind this expansion. In a significant shift, digital revenues now constitute 82.7% of all creator earnings in the country. This segment alone crossed the monumental threshold of ₹600 crore in the 2024–25 financial year. The explosive rise in smartphone penetration and affordable data has democratized music consumption, creating a vast new audience for Indian creators.
However, this digital dominance reveals a stark contrast with other established markets. While globally, traditional revenue streams like television, radio, and live events contribute over half of all royalties, in India they represent only a tiny fraction. Sectors such as broadcast television, radio, hotels, retail, and live events remain significantly under-licensed, creating a dangerous over-reliance on a single income source.
A Call for Fair Pay and Systemic Change
Industry leaders are sounding the alarm, stating that the headline growth figures mask a deep-seated problem that could undermine the creative economy's sustainability. Composer and IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society) board member Salim Merchant emphasized the fundamental role of royalties. "Royalties are not perks; they are the rightful earnings for the music we create," he stated. He explained that these payments allow lyricists and composers to focus entirely on their art without financial limitations.
Merchant stressed that timely and transparent royalty payments are the bedrock of a healthy creative ecosystem. "When royalties are paid on time and with transparency, they strengthen the entire creative ecosystem. India is brimming with talent, but for creators to truly thrive, fair payment for music across streaming platforms, live events, and broadcasting must become the norm, not the exception," he added.
The Compliance Gap and Its Consequences
Rakesh Nigam, CEO of IPRS, pinpointed the core issue: compliance. "India is one of the fastest-growing music markets globally, but this momentum can sustain only if every user of music respects copyright and adheres to licensing norms mandated by law," he asserted. He noted that the imbalance between digital and non-digital revenues is a major structural challenge. The broadcast sector, for instance, saw its contribution to creator income plummet to a mere 2.3%, a drop attributed to deferred payments and widespread non-compliance.
"Paying for music is not optional; it is a legal obligation and the backbone of the creative economy," Nigam declared. This sentiment was echoed by composer Suleiman Merchant, who highlighted that Indian artists still depend heavily on one-time upfront fees, unlike their international counterparts for whom royalties form a major, recurring income source. "The music we create has a long life, and royalties ensure that creators benefit from that journey. Fair play and fair pay of music will finally put our creators on equal footing with the world," he said.
With over 20,000 members, IPRS has become the fourth-largest copyright society in the Asia-Pacific region. The organization views India's music industry as being at a crucial inflection point. The record collections of ₹741.6 crore in FY 2024–25 are a milestone, but leaders warn that without stronger enforcement and compliance from traditional, non-digital sectors, India will struggle to reach global benchmarks for creator welfare.
As Salim Merchant concluded, "Properly licensed use of music gives creators the stability to innovate and experiment without compromise." The collective message from the industry is unequivocal: for India's music boom to have a lasting and meaningful impact, every stream, every stage, and every screen must pay its due.
