Exclusive:License Liya Kya? Why Public Performances Must License Independent And Mainstream Music

It's a simple question, and it's the heart of IPRS's annual campaign: ‘License Liya Kya?’

Walk into a cafe, a hotel lobby, a gym, a retail store or a wedding venue, and music is almost always playing. It sets the mood, keeps customers comfortable and makes the experience memorable. But behind every song is a lyricist, a composer and a publisher who put in the work to create it. So, we ask every business that plays music in public: License Liya Kya?

Every song carries creative value and that value deserves to be recognised.

India’s creative industries are increasingly being recognised as an important part of the country’s economic growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the potential of the Orange Economy, which encompasses the creative and cultural industries and the economic opportunities they generate.

Music is an important part of this ecosystem, creating livelihoods and opportunities for authors, composers, publishers, performers and many others who contribute to the wider music industry. Ensuring that creators’ rights are recognised and that they receive royalties for the legitimate commercial use of their work is an important step towards building a stronger and more sustainable creative economy.

There is a common belief that if a song is on a streaming app or a playlist, it can be played anywhere. That isn't so. Listening to a song privately is different from playing it in a commercial or public space. When music is performed or communicated to the public, the rights of the authors, composers, and publishers are involved, and permission is needed.

A music license is that permission. It is how a business says, "We value the creators whose work makes our space better."

Why you need an IPRS license?

No music artist can visit every restaurant, hotel or event hall to seek permission and collect royalties, and no business wants to negotiate with hundreds of rights holders one by one. This is where IPRS comes in. IPRS works on behalf of authors, composers and publishers. We license the use of our repertoire and collect royalties, which we distribute to eligible members. For businesses, this means one simple, lawful route to use a vast body of music. For creators, it means their work is represented and rewarded even when they are nowhere near the venue.

What a fair music ecosystem looks like? 

In my view, a fair music ecosystem rests on three things:

• Creators who know their rights and are represented so they can earn what they are eligible for.
• Businesses that use music responsibly and understand that licensing is part of doing business, like any other essential service.
• A transparent system between that makes licensing easy, clear and accountable. 

When these three come together, everyone benefits. Businesses play music with confidence. Creators are rewarded for their work. And the industry keeps producing the music we all love.

The need for a license at public performance

Music played in a public or commercial setting, whether at a restaurant, hotel, retail outlet, fitness studio or event, is a public performance. It adds value to the business and the customer experience, and that value should flow back to the people who created the music. A license ensures the use is lawful, the creators are recognised and the business is protected from avoidable disputes. 

What should event and venue owners know?

The licence fee is not a one-size-fits-all charge. IPRS has category-wise tariffs based on factors such as the type of event, venue, whether the event is ticketed or sponsored, and the way music is performed. 

One of the biggest misconceptions about music licensing is that it is meant to stop events. That is not the purpose of licensing. Music is an important part of events, hospitality, retail and entertainment, and our objective is to enable its legitimate use while ensuring that the creators behind that music are recognised and remunerated where applicable.

We encourage event organisers, venues and businesses to understand what music they are using, where they are using it and which tariff or licence category applies to them. Maintaining accurate information, including setlists where relevant, also helps create greater transparency and supports the royalty distribution process.

Licensing should not be seen as a barrier to using music. It is part of creating a fair ecosystem where music users can use repertoire responsibly and creators can benefit from the commercial use of their works.”

Know your tariffs here: https://iprs.org/choose-your-license/#Know-your-tariffs

Our ask

To every business owner, event organizer and venue manager: take a moment to check. License liya kya? If not, IPRS is here to help you get one easily.  To every author, composer and publisher: make sure your rights are registered and represented, because your music is working for you in places you may never see.

Get all the necessary information on IPRS license here: https://iprs.org/all-about-licensing/

Music is not free content. It is creative work, intellectual property and a source of income for those who make it. Let's build an ecosystem where the people behind the music are always recognised.

License liya kya? Let's make it a habit.