Sat Mar 28 07:59:53 UTC 2026: ### Music Royalty System Under Scrutiny as Amaal Mallik Reveals Disparity in Earnings
The Story:
Indian music composer Amaal Mallik has ignited a debate about the fairness of the music royalty system in India. In a recent interview, Mallik detailed how music labels retain the master rights to songs, leaving the composers, lyricists, and singers with a small share of the publishing rights. He cited his experience with the hit song “Sooraj Dooba Hai,” revealing that despite the song earning an estimated Rs 100 crore in royalties over the years, he only received between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh as salary for his work after expenses.
Mallik’s revelations come amidst ongoing discussions in the Indian music industry about equitable compensation for artists. He highlighted the efforts of Javed Akhtar, who championed the Copyright (Amendment) Act in 2012, aimed at protecting the rights of creative professionals. Mallik contrasted the Indian system with practices in the West, where artists often retain master royalties, giving them greater control over their work and earnings.
Key Points:
* Amaal Mallik highlighted the disparity in royalty distribution in the Indian music industry.
* Music labels retain master rights, while composers, lyricists, and singers receive a smaller share of publishing rights.
* Mallik earned between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh for composing “Sooraj Dooba Hai,” which has earned approximately Rs 100 crore in royalties.
* Javed Akhtar’s efforts in passing the 2012 Copyright (Amendment) Act aimed to protect creators’ rights.
* The Indian system lags behind Western practices, where artists often retain master royalties.
Key Takeaways:
* The current music royalty system in India heavily favors music labels over the creators of the music.
* The disparity in earnings raises questions about the fairness and sustainability of the Indian music industry.
* The lack of master rights for composers and lyricists limits their control over their work and potential earnings.
* The 2012 Copyright (Amendment) Act, while a step in the right direction, has not fully addressed the issue of equitable compensation.
* The comparison with Western practices highlights the need for reform in the Indian music industry.
First Piper 