IPRS Crosses Rs 600 Crore In Royalty Distribution, Strengthens Global Copyright Influence

In a watershed moment for India’s music industry, the Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) has crossed a historic milestone by distributing over Rs 600 crore in royalties in 2025. This unprecedented figure not only underscores the organization's unwavering commitment to ensuring fair compensation for music creators but also cements its leadership in advocating for the rights of songwriters, composers, and publishers across the country.

With a membership base of over 18,000, IPRS has consistently worked to build a transparent and accountable ecosystem for Indian music creators. From simplifying registration processes to standardizing metadata and ensuring accountability from stakeholders, the organization is laying the groundwork for a more equitable and sustainable creative economy.

IPRS’s impact is now being felt on the global stage. In a landmark moment, it hosted an exclusive, closed-door roundtable in Mumbai during the first official visit to India by Ms. Sylvie Forbin, Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The gathering brought together some of the most prominent voices in India’s music and entertainment sectors — from lyricists and composers to publishers, legal experts, and government representatives — to deliberate on the evolving role of intellectual property in the age of AI and digital transformation.

The session, chaired by IPRS Chairman and celebrated lyricist Javed Akhtar, served as a powerful platform for discussion around the need for robust IP laws, stronger collective management organizations, and the inclusion of creators in policymaking. In his address,Akhtar emphasized the importance of financial security for artists, stressing that only when creators are empowered to make independent choices can the industry truly flourish. He commended Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal for his proactive support and stressed the urgent need to implement the Copyright Act 2021 effectively on the ground.

The importance of copyright was further amplified by Hon’ble Justice Pratibha M. Singh, who highlighted it as the most enduring and far-reaching IP right. WIPO Director General Daren Tang, in his keynote, reiterated that intellectual property should be seen not as a legal technicality, but as a development tool that can drive innovation, inclusion, and economic empowerment.

The momentum didn’t stop there. At FICCI’s ‘IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP’ conference, IPRS continued its advocacy for a balanced creative ecosystem. Chairman Javed Akhtar once again took center stage, calling for policies that allow creators to thrive without compromising artistic integrity. During the event, a long-anticipated MoU was signed between FICCI and WIPO to establish an IP for Business Center — a significant step in strengthening India’s IP framework and empowering its creative communities.

Back home, IPRS is making sure its vision translates into grassroots impact. Through the #MyMusicMyRights campaign, it has traveled across cities including Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and Patna, educating nearly 2,000 emerging artists on copyright, music distribution, and business fundamentals. These sessions are equipping the next generation of Indian creators with the tools and confidence to protect their work and monetize it effectively.

Its recent collaboration with the Task Force for Music and Arts (TAFMA) in Nagaland is further expanding the reach of its mission. The partnership is designed to empower creators from culturally rich but often overlooked regions, with initiatives already making an international impact — such as Nagaland’s Abdon Mech representing India at the Artisjus Songbook Camp 2025 in Budapest.

To cap off a year of achievements, IPRS has also been recognized on the global stage for operational excellence. According to the latest DCI Test Assessment by CISAC, the organization has achieved 96% accuracy in managing domestic works, placing it among the top five performing rights societies in the world. This recognition is especially significant given the persistent industry challenges around inaccurate or missing metadata — a problem IPRS is actively working to solve through standardization and better compliance in both digital and live performance contexts.

From royalty payouts and global collaborations to grassroots education and policy influence, IPRS is not only transforming the music landscape in India — it is defining the future of intellectual property rights for creators in the digital age.