What Is Music Publishing?
Every song has two separate sets of rights:
Master Rights (Recording)
The rights to the specific recorded version of a song. When someone streams your track on Spotify or JioSaavn, the streaming royalty pays the master rights holder — usually the artist or label who paid for the recording.
Publishing Rights (Composition)
The rights to the underlying song — the melody, lyrics and chord structure. When a song is played on radio, TV, in a restaurant, or licensed for a film, the publishing royalty pays the songwriter and their publisher. In India, this is collected via IPRS.
An independent Indian artist who writes their own songs owns both sets of rights. Most artists collect their master royalties through a distributor like Western Beats — but fail to register for and collect their publishing royalties from IPRS. This is unclaimed money.
Types of Publishing Royalties in India
Performance Royalties
Collected by IPRSPaid when your song is performed or broadcast publicly — on radio (All India Radio, private FM), TV channels, streaming platforms, in hotels, restaurants, gyms, and at live events. IPRS collects these from broadcasters and venues and distributes them to registered songwriters.
Mechanical Royalties
Paid per stream/copyPaid for each reproduction of your composition — when someone streams it on Spotify/JioSaavn or downloads it. In India, streaming platforms are increasingly paying mechanicals alongside performance royalties through IPRS agreements.
Sync Licensing Royalties
Direct licensing dealPaid when your song is licensed for use in a film, TV show, advertisement, YouTube video or podcast. You (or a publisher acting on your behalf) negotiate sync licensing directly. This can be the most lucrative single income source.
Print Royalties
Rare in IndiaPaid when your song is printed in sheet music, lyric books, or educational materials. Small revenue stream in India but worth tracking.
IPRS — How to Register and Collect
The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) is India's performing rights organisation — equivalent to PRS (UK), ASCAP/BMI (USA), or SOCAN (Canada). It collects performance and mechanical royalties from broadcasters, streaming platforms, and public venues in India and distributes them to registered composers and lyricists.
How to Register with IPRS
Go to iprs.org and create an account
Visit the IPRS member portal. Select "Composer/Lyricist" as your membership type. Individual artists register as Ordinary Members.
Gather required documents
You'll need: PAN card or Aadhaar card (identity proof), a cancelled cheque (for bank account verification), a photograph, and a list of your original works (song titles, co-writer names if any).
Register your works
After membership approval, log in and register every song you've written. Include co-writers and their percentage split. IPRS tracks royalties per registered work — unregistered songs cannot be paid out.
Wait for distribution
IPRS distributes royalties quarterly. The first payment may take 3–6 months after registration as they reconcile data from broadcasters and streaming platforms.
Do You Need a Music Publisher?
As an independent artist in India, you do not need a music publisher to collect publishing royalties. You can register directly with IPRS as a songwriter and receive payments directly.
A music publishing deal makes sense only if a publisher offers:
- A meaningful upfront advance against future royalties
- Active sync licensing pitching — they have relationships with Bollywood studios, OTT platforms (Netflix India, Amazon Prime), and ad agencies
- International collection — sub-publishing deals in the USA, UK and other markets where your music streams heavily
If a publisher offers none of these, there is no reason to give up a percentage of your publishing income. Self-publish through IPRS.
FAQ: Music Publishing India
What is music publishing in India?
Music publishing in India refers to managing and monetising the composition rights to a song. When a song is broadcast, streamed, or performed publicly in India, the songwriter earns publishing royalties collected by IPRS.
How do I register with IPRS in India?
Apply at iprs.org with your PAN/Aadhaar, bank details, and a list of your compositions. IPRS membership is free for individual artists. After approval, register each song separately to enable royalty tracking.
Do I need a music publisher in India?
No. Independent artists can self-publish by registering directly with IPRS. A publisher only adds value if they offer upfront advances, sync licensing, or international sub-publishing services.
Distribute your music and keep 100% of your master royalties.
Western Beats handles your distribution to Spotify, JioSaavn and 150+ platforms. You keep all your royalties. Free forever.
Start Distributing Free →