{"id":2075,"date":"2026-05-01T23:26:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T17:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblackturn.com\/blogs\/?p=2075"},"modified":"2026-05-01T23:26:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T17:56:41","slug":"music-royalties-explained-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblackturn.com\/blogs\/music-royalties-explained-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Music Royalties Explained: How Artists Get Paid in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

You wrote a song. You recorded it. You distributed it. People are streaming it. But do you actually understand <\/span>how<\/b> the money reaches your bank account? And more importantly, are you collecting <\/span>all<\/b> the money you are owed?<\/span><\/p>\n

Most Indian artists know about streaming royalties. That is the money you get when someone plays your song on Spotify or JioSaavn. But streaming royalties are just <\/span>one of five<\/b> types of music royalties you can earn in India. The other four are quietly accumulating somewhere and if you are not registered with the right organisations, nobody is sending you that money.<\/span><\/p>\n

This guide breaks down every type of royalty, who pays it, who collects it, and exactly what you need to do to make sure you are not leaving money on the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

One Song, Multiple Rights, Multiple Payments<\/b><\/h2>\n

Before we get into royalty types, you need to understand something fundamental: <\/span>one song is actually two separate copyrights.<\/b><\/p>\n

Copyright 1: The composition<\/b> : the melody and lyrics. This belongs to the songwriter (composer + lyricist). Even if the song is never recorded, the composition exists as soon as it is written down or documented.<\/span><\/p>\n

Copyright 2: The sound recording<\/b> : the specific recorded version of that composition. This belongs to whoever paid for the recording, which is typically the artist, the producer, or the record label.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why does this matter? Because <\/span>different royalty types are tied to different copyrights.<\/b> Performance royalties go to the composition owner. Sound recording royalties go to the recording owner. If you wrote and recorded your own song (which most independent artists do), you own both and you are entitled to both sets of royalties.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are an independent artist who writes, records, and owns your own music: <\/b>You are the composer, lyricist, performer, AND sound recording owner. This means you are eligible for ALL five types of royalties. Most signed artists only get a fraction because the label owns the recording.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 5 Types of Music Royalties in India<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Royalty Type<\/b><\/td>\nWho Gets Paid<\/b><\/td>\nWhen Triggered<\/b><\/td>\nWho Collects<\/b><\/td>\nPassive?<\/b><\/td>\nAction Needed<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Streaming<\/b><\/td>\nRecording owner<\/span><\/td>\nEvery stream on any platform<\/span><\/td>\nYour distributor<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/b><\/td>\nDistribute your music<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Performance<\/b><\/td>\nComposer + lyricist<\/span><\/td>\nPublic play: radio, TV, events, cafes, streaming<\/span><\/td>\nIPRS<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/b><\/td>\nRegister with IPRS<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mechanical<\/b><\/td>\nComposer + lyricist<\/span><\/td>\nReproduction: downloads, physical sales, streams<\/span><\/td>\nIPRS \/ distributor<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/b><\/td>\nRegister with IPRS<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neighbouring \/ Performer<\/b><\/td>\nSinger + musicians<\/span><\/td>\nCommercial use of the recording<\/span><\/td>\nISAMRA + PPL<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/b><\/td>\nRegister with ISAMRA<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sync<\/b><\/td>\nAll rights holders<\/span><\/td>\nMusic used in film, ad, web series, game<\/span><\/td>\nDirect \/ agent<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\nMake music discoverable<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now let us break down each one with real-world examples.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Streaming Royalties : The One Everyone Knows<\/b><\/h2>\n

Every time someone plays your song on Spotify, Apple Music, JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk, YouTube Music, or any streaming platform, you earn a per-stream royalty. This is the most visible income source for modern artists.<\/span><\/p>\n

How it flows:<\/b> Listener streams your song \u2192 Platform (Spotify etc.) calculates royalty \u2192 Platform pays your distributor \u2192 Distributor pays you (minus their commission).<\/span><\/p>\n

We covered exact per-stream rates in detail in our <\/span>Spotify pay per stream India guide<\/span><\/a>. Quick summary:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Platform<\/b><\/td>\nPer 1,000 Indian Streams<\/b><\/td>\nPer 1 Lakh Streams<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spotify<\/b><\/td>\n\u20b9120\u2013250<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b912K\u201325K<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apple Music<\/b><\/td>\n\u20b9500\u2013700<\/b><\/td>\n\u20b950K\u201370K<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
JioSaavn<\/b><\/td>\n\u20b950\u2013100<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b95K\u201310K<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
YouTube Music<\/b><\/td>\n\u20b9100\u2013200<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b910K\u201320K<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

What you need to do:<\/b> Distribute your music through a distributor. That is it, streaming royalties flow automatically once your song is live on platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have not distributed your music yet, read our <\/span>step-by-step distribution guide<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Performance Royalties : The Money Most Indian Artists Miss<\/b><\/h2>\n

This is where things get interesting and where most Indian artists lose money. <\/span>Performance royalties<\/b> are earned whenever your composition (melody + lyrics) is performed or played publicly:<\/span><\/p>\n