IPRS Reports 42% Growth In Collections Amid Global Music Revenue Surge

The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) has released its analysis of the CISAC Global Collections Report 2025, which records another year of record-high global royalties for creators and highlights India as one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets, driven largely by streaming.

According to CISAC, global collections reached EUR 13.97 billion in 2024, with digital revenues surpassing EUR 5 billion for the first time. India’s creator revenues rose 40.5% to EUR 80.5 million, up sharply from EUR 5.4 million a decade earlier, placing IPRS as the fourth-largest collecting society in the Asia-Pacific region. Digital streaming accounted for 82.7% of total collections, supported by a major back payment and continued migration from free to paid platforms.

Live and background collections crossed EUR 10 million for the first time, contributing 14% of the overall share. Broadcast royalties, however, fell to 2.3% because of deferred payments. CISAC noted that India and Vietnam are among the world’s fastest-expanding digital markets with some of the highest digital revenue shares globally.

These trends align with IPRS’s FY 2024–25 Annual Report, which recorded its strongest performance so far. Total collections grew 42% to Rs 741.6 crore, while royalty distributions rose 21% to Rs 608.8 crore. Streaming revenue crossed Rs 600 crore, reflecting 59% year-on-year growth. Despite this momentum, IPRS highlighted that India’s dependence on digital income remains unusually high compared to global patterns, where broadcasting and live/background contribute far more significantly.

IPRS said inadequate licensing compliance continues to suppress revenue from radio, television, commercial establishments, and large-scale live events,even as India hosts major festivals such as Lollapalooza India, Rolling Loud and the Cherry Blossom Festival. Public performance royalties reached ?101.7 crore but continue to suffer from widespread non-compliance.

“The CISAC report validates India’s position as a dynamic and rapidly growing music market, but it also signals the urgent need for greater compliance across the ecosystem,” said IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam. “Digital platforms cannot be the sole driver of creator income. Every commercial user of music must recognise their duty to pay for what they use.”

With membership crossing 20,000 and India emerging as a key Asia-Pacific player, IPRS said the country stands at an inflection point. It pointed to improving metadata accuracy, new global collaboration programmes, and a growing creator base as signs of progress,but warned that sustainability will depend on traditional sectors complying with licensing norms.

The CISAC report also flagged generative AI as a major upcoming challenge, projecting a possible 24% decline in creator revenues by 2028 as AI-generated outputs flood the market. CISAC President Bjorn Ulvaeus said the industry must ensure that “respect for human authorship is not pushed aside in the race for innovation.”

India’s Copyright Act, 1957, and its 2012 Amendment guarantee creators an inalienable right to royalty for lyrics and compositions. IPRS emphasised that stronger licensing compliance will be essential to protect livelihoods and support the next phase of growth for India’s music publishing ecosystem.