How IPRS is Cleaning Up Music Rights

Introduction

The music industry is rapidly evolving in the digital age, but one thing remains consistent—the need for music creators to be properly recognized, credited, and compensated for their work. In India, the music ecosystem continues to grow, but with this growth comes challenges in ensuring fair practices and rights protection. Music creators often face barriers in accessing royalties and receiving due credit for their contributions. This is where organizations like the Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) come into play, driving significant change in India’s music landscape.

Awareness and Education: Building a Foundation

Educating music creators about their rights is a critical first step in empowering them. Many creators are unaware of their fundamental rights, such as the copyrights they hold over their work, the importance of accurate metadata, and the need to register with relevant societies like IPRS. This lack of awareness often leads to missed opportunities for royalties and the failure to receive proper credit for their work.

IPRS has taken significant steps to raise awareness and promote education among creators. Their initiatives, particularly the My Music My Rights campaign, have been instrumental in spreading knowledge across India. This campaign travels to various cities, reaching independent creators, artists, and professionals. Recently, Season 2 of the campaign reached nearly 2,000 participants across Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and Patna, offering valuable insights on topics ranging from copyright fundamentals to artist management. These sessions equip emerging artists with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the business side of music confidently.

Tackling the Metadata Crisis

Metadata is the backbone of the music industry, yet it remains one of the most persistent challenges. Many music creators fail to maintain consistent metadata across various streaming platforms, leading to confusion and misattribution. Additionally, inaccurate metadata can cause delays in royalty distribution. This issue is particularly prevalent when creators register their work with IPRS without proper documentation.

The problem extends beyond digital platforms into live music events. Concert organizers and artists are required to submit setlists to IPRS to ensure that songs performed live are tracked and credited. Unfortunately, these setlists are often incomplete or submitted with incorrect information, further complicating the tracking of rightful usage.

The issue of incorrect metadata was addressed during a landmark event held in Mumbai on March 28, 2025, where IPRS, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), hosted a high-level roundtable. The event discussed the global lack of standardized metadata practices and highlighted the need for tools such as AI-based tracking systems and harmonized metadata protocols. With over 100 million songs circulating digitally, the need for accurate metadata is more critical than ever to ensure that creators receive proper credit and compensation for their work.

The Importance of Paid Subscriptions and Ethical Consumption

In today’s music industry, many platforms operate on a freemium model, with less than 5% of users subscribing to paid services. Paid subscriptions are essential for ensuring that creators receive compensation when their music is streamed. Piracy and illegal downloads remain major issues, and when fans choose to access music without paying, they deprive creators of their rightful earnings.

Supporting artists goes beyond liking or sharing their music—it involves paying for it through legal and ethical means. Choosing to pay for music not only helps creators financially but also supports the broader music ecosystem. By subscribing to paid services or purchasing music legally, fans ensure that artists are compensated for their hard work and creativity.

Compliance and Licensing: The Need for Industry-Wide Change

India’s music ecosystem faces widespread non-compliance, with many homegrown platforms operating without licenses. Venues such as hotels, clubs, retail outlets, and event organizers often neglect to obtain performance licenses, which undermines the rights of music creators. This lack of enforcement reflects a broader mindset issue: paying for music is still not universally accepted as a standard practice.

Shifting this mindset is crucial for the growth of the music industry. Music is intellectual property, and like any other product or service, it deserves to be paid for. Music creators need to register with relevant copyright bodies to ensure they receive royalties from different domains—mechanical rights, performance rights, synchronization rights, and more. By adhering to proper licensing and compliance protocols, the industry can create a more sustainable ecosystem for creators and music professionals.

Looking Ahead: The Future of India’s Music Ecosystem

Looking ahead, IPRS continues to work towards simplifying the registration process for creators and standardizing metadata practices. With over 18,000 members, the organization plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of India’s music ecosystem. By empowering creators, fostering awareness, and ensuring compliance, IPRS is paving the way for a more robust and equitable music industry.

The role of India in shaping global intellectual property (IP) policy was further highlighted during the roundtable hosted by IPRS and WIPO. Experts emphasized India’s strategic position in influencing global IP standards and the need for harmonized protocols to ensure that music creators are accurately credited and compensated across all platforms.

Conclusion

Strengthening India’s music ecosystem requires a collective effort from all stakeholders—creators, platforms, event organizers, and consumers. By fostering awareness, improving metadata standards, and ensuring compliance with licensing laws, India can create a more sustainable and fair music industry. The role of organizations like IPRS is essential in empowering creators and ensuring that they receive the recognition and compensation they deserve for their work.