ISAMRA Distributes ₹100 Crore Royalties to 26,000 Indian Singers and Musicians
In a landmark moment for India's music industry, the Indian Singers and Musicians Rights Association (ISAMRA) has distributed a staggering ₹100 crore in royalties to 26,000 singers and musicians. This monumental payout is being hailed by its leadership as a long-overdue "correction of history," addressing decades of economic exclusion for performers whose voices have shaped the nation's musical legacy.
Voices Finally Honoured: Emotional and Historic Milestone
Veteran singer Anup Jalota described the moment as "deeply emotional and historic." He emphasized, "For years, singers gave their voices to immortality, but did not always receive their due. Today, with this distribution, that voice is not just heard, it is honoured. It reinforces that royalties are a right, not a privilege."
Sonu Nigam echoed this sentiment, stating, "Our decades-long battle pays off. Artistes have finally moved from being remembered to being rewarded. This goes beyond applause. It gives performers a financial identity and dignity, and acknowledges that the voice is not just emotion, it is value."
A Shift Across Generations: From Delayed Justice to Long-Term Assurance
For veteran artistes, many of whom never expected to receive royalties within their lifetime, this payout signals delayed justice. For younger performers, it offers long-term assurance and security. Jalota noted, "It brings peace to legends and confidence to the young. When an artiste knows their work will continue to earn for them, it brings dignity and security."
Nigam added, "For years, recognition came in the form of love and applause, but not proportionate reward. This shift changes that narrative. It tells every young artiste that their art will not just be celebrated, it will be protected and valued."
Why Systems Matter: The Role of ISAMRA in Ensuring Transparency
The scale of music consumption today makes transparency critical. Sanjay Tandon, Chairman of ISAMRA, described the payout as more than a financial milestone, calling it "justice for performers." He highlighted, "With over 4 lakh tracks played upwards of 4.5 crore times across platforms, the move underscores the growing importance of structured systems, as ISAMRA's metadata backbone ensures accurate tracking and monetisation across radio, television, digital and public platforms."
Jalota credited ISAMRA with bringing "discipline and accountability" to an unorganised space, stating, "Today music travels everywhere. Without structure and transparency, it is impossible to track it." Nigam emphasized, "Transparency is everything. If you cannot track usage, you cannot value it. Systems like ISAMRA ensure that every play, every performance translates into rightful earnings with clarity and credibility."
The Road Ahead: Expanding Awareness and Global Integration
Looking forward, the focus is on expanding awareness, strengthening enforcement, and building global integration. Tandon stressed the need to bring more artistes into the royalty framework, ensuring no voice is left behind. Jalota underlined the importance of parity, saying, "We must ensure that Indian artistes receive global respect and parity. As our music travels across borders, our rights must travel with it."
Nigam added a note of caution in an evolving landscape: "The industry is evolving rapidly with digital platforms and AI. But the core must remain human. Technology should empower artistes, not dilute their rights. We need ethical frameworks that protect the voice behind the music."
This distribution marks a pivotal step towards recognizing and rewarding the contributions of India's musical talents, setting a precedent for fairness and transparency in the entertainment sector.
