ISAMRA Highlights Royalties Distribution and AI Challenges at NMACC Symposium
On 26 June 2026, the Indian Singers' and Musicians' Rights Association (ISAMRA) took part in the symposium titled "Music Copyrights: Royalties, Rights & AI – The Road Ahead" held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC). The event assembled prominent figures from India’s music and copyright ecosystem, including Padma Shri Anup Jalota, Rakesh Nigam, Sanjay Tandon, Atul Churamani, and moderator Dr. Ratish Tagde.
During the panel discussion, Sanjay Tandon disclosed that ISAMRA has now distributed nearly ₹100 crore in royalties to singers and musicians across the country. He also noted that ISAMRA has entered reciprocal agreements with 19 performers' rights societies worldwide, a framework that allows Indian performers to receive royalties from international usage of their performances and ensures foreign performers are compensated for uses within India, thereby strengthening India’s role in the global copyright landscape.
Rakesh Nigam, representing the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), emphasized the society’s ongoing awareness programmes and outreach initiatives aimed at educating composers, lyricists, and music creators about their legal rights, royalty entitlements, and the importance of copyright protection. He stressed that creator awareness is essential for ensuring that entitled benefits are actually received.
The conversation turned to the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the music industry. All panellists agreed that while AI offers exciting creative possibilities, it also raises critical questions concerning ownership, consent, attribution, and fair remuneration for creators and performers. They cautioned that technology should complement, not undermine, the rights of artists whose talent underpins the industry.
Padma Shri Anup Jalota highlighted the timeless value of original creativity and called for the preservation of artists’ dignity and rights amid rapid technological change. Atul Churamani spoke on evolving business models, shifting digital consumption patterns, and the necessity for continuous adaptation while keeping creators at the centre of industry growth.
The session was moderated by Dr. Ratish Tagde, who guided an engaging dialogue covering legal, creative, and commercial aspects of the music business, fostering interaction between speakers and the audience.
ISAMRA expressed gratitude to Ms. Leena Diviyanathan and the NMACC for providing the platform for this dialogue, and to Dr. Tagde for his insightful moderation. The symposium concluded with a consensus that greater awareness, stronger collective rights management, international collaboration, and balanced regulation of emerging technologies are essential to safeguard the future of India’s music creators and performers.
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