In a landmark deal, Indian music giant Super Cassettes Industries (better known as T-Series) has joined the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) – India’s royalty collection society for songwriters and music publishers.
The agreement was reached last week after years of resistance from T-Series, which runs the world’s most popular YouTube channel with more than 178 million subscribers and over 149 billion views to date.
T-Series, which also runs India’s biggest film music label, brings more than 15,000 hours of music to IPRS. Its catalog spans 200,000 songs and over 50,000 music videos across over 15 Indian languages
IPRS already has some big music industry names on board including Sony Music Entertainment India, Saregama India, Universal Music Publishing, Times Music, and Aditya Music.
However, T-Series has described its addition to IPRS’s members as a “watershed moment in the Indian music industry”.
Chairman and Managing Director of T-Series, Bhushan Kumar, said, “Copyright is in the heart and soul of what T-Series creates. Our joining IPRS is a logical progression for the company.
“We took this decision in the interest of the entire music industry – today the entire industry, creators, music businesses, all united, represent a seamless coalition of stakeholders contributing to our country’s progress and working together in our common interest.
“Copyright is in the heart and soul of what T-Series creates. Our joining IPRS is a logical progression for the company.”
Bhushan Kumar, T-Series
“T-Series will bring more value to IPRS and its members. We look forward to IPRS growing even more with our support in the future so that it can benefit the creator community and the industry even more”.
Kumar will join the IPRS board as a result of the new deal.
IPRS, a 5,000-member organization, was in 2019 credited by CISAC as the fastest-growing copyright society in the world.
Chairman of IPRS and professional lyricist, Javed Akhtar said, “I see this as a homecoming for T-Series and thank Mr Bhushan Kumar and the T-Series family from the bottom of my heart for entrusting IPRS with its copyright catalogue once again.
“This is a win-win proposition for T-Series and for our author and music composer members who will benefit tremendously. The entire music industry is united today in its determination that creators [and] music businesses all will work together for the common cause.
“I am joined by my fellow Directors of IPRS in saying I also look forward to welcoming Mr Bhushan Kumar on the Board of IPRS”.
The entire music industry is united today in its determination that creators [and] music businesses all will work together for the common cause.”
Javed Akhtar, IPRS
Devraj Sanyal, Managing Director & CEO, Universal Music Group, India & South Asia said, “For great change to effectively happen in the publishing business of the Indian music industry, you need all the major players to band together to push the agenda of fairness, transparency and equitable remunerations for both owner publishers and our respected author composers.
“Now with my dear friends Bhushan and teams from T-Series joining us in IPRS, that day is here. With Javed Saab, Bhushan and all my fellow board members I’m sure we will now see a golden age dawn for creators and copyright owners”.
Rakesh Nigam CEO, IPRS said, “I am delighted that T-Series is joining IPRS. This will benefit the authors and music composer members of IPRS tremendously. T-Series is not only a market leader in the music and film industry, but it is also a hugely successful incubation lab and proving ground for many young talented creators, all of whom will benefit from their association with IPRS as well.”
IPRS has managed to attract some big names to its platform. However, some big music labels still remain hesitant to become a part of the coalition. These include Zee Music Company and Yash Raj Films Music.
In 2019, the IPRS filed a criminal case against Yash Raj Films (YRF) for misappropriation of royalties, making it unlikely that YRF will join IPRS anytime soon.Music Business Worldwide