Artistes’ body moves to enforce copyright

The Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) held a workshop to raise awareness about the importance of royalty fee to music creators and the importance of crediting lyricists through their ‘Learn and Earn’ initiative launched on Friday.

IPRS said the workshop is part of the year-long, pan-India initiative for the Telugu music industry to create awareness on creator’s rights.

Tollywood music industry veterans M.M. Keeravani, Chandrabose, Ramajogayya Sastry, S. Thaman along with Rakesh Nigam, CEO of IPRS, and Mayur Puri, song writer. were present. The focal point of discussion was copyright in music and related areas like licensing emerging trends and technological advancements in the digital era, and the role of the IPRS in protecting creators’ rights and their dues.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, IPRS CEO Nigam said that a creator can become a member by signing up on website and by paying a one-time registration fee.

“It is equally important that songwriters and composers are well aware of their rights,” he said.

Commenting on the ‘Learn and Earn’ initiative, Keeravani said, “It is very important for music-makers to know their basic rights. Ignorance often deprives many of them of their due credit and rightful dues. A composer or an author needs to be equally aware about the different aspects of the music business to flourish as a creator.”

Songwriter Mayur Puri added that IPRS was the loudest and most important voice of the music creator community.

“It is imperative for all of us at IPRS to step up our diversity and inclusion initiatives.” He said, ‘Learn and Earn’ was a series of full-day, multi-city workshops designed to empower members.

CEO Nigam said IPRS recorded a growth in earnings of around 85 per cent from `169.8 crore in

2020-21 to more than

`310 crore in 2021-22, with the contributors being streaming/OTT platforms.