“With 37 Billion Views, They Think I Own A Jet”: Tanishk Bagchi Slams Hindi Music’s ‘Unfair’ Royalty System

Music composer Tanishk Bagchi has called out what he describes as an “unfair” royalty system in the Hindi music industry, highlighting how creators often don’t benefit financially from the massive online success of their work. Despite his songs collectively amassing billions of views on platforms like YouTube, he estimates around 37 billion, Bagchi said people assume such popularity must have made him wealthy, joking that “they think I own a jet.”

He explained that unlike Western music markets, where songwriters, sound engineers and composers receive ongoing royalties that help sustain their careers, India largely operates on a one-time payment model. Under this system, artists are paid upfront for a song and receive little to nothing as the music continues to be streamed or used.

Bagchi acknowledged some progress through organisations like the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), which has helped improve royalty distribution, but stressed that many contributors, including instrumentalists, still don’t get their fair share. He expressed hope that the industry will continue to reform so that creators receive long-term financial support.