ITV

Category: Music and Youth

  • IPRS launches #KNOWYOURMUSIC campaign ahead of World Music Day

    New Delhi: The Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) and Dolby Laboratories have come together ahead of the World Music Day on 21 June, to launch the #KNOWYOURMUSIC campaign highlighting multiple genres of Indian music and creating a more engaged audience.

    The launch will commence with a panel discussion on 21 June at 5 pm with eminent personalities from the music industry including Turnkey Music & Publishing Pvt Ltd, managing director, Atul Churamani, music composer Shantanu Moitra, Veena Music Pvt Ltd, director, Hemjit Maloo, popular Indian folk musician Abha Hanjura and Anahad Foundation, founder-director, Abhinav Agarwal. The session will be moderated by lyricist, screenwriter and actor Mayur Puri.

    Anahad Foundation, an NGO that works for the recognition, preservation, and evolution of Indian Folk Music has also come on board and as part of the initiative and IPRS will enrol over 100 folk artists, who are authors and composers as its member.

    IPRS chairman, Javed Akhtar said the #KNOWYOURMUSIC campaign was launched to unfold India’s rich musical heritage and create a forum to initiate engagement with music. “Enriched over millennia, Indian music has always stood out by its vast cultural diversity. Music styles like Folk, Ghazal, Devotional, Instrumental, etc. have been presented by the music creators in unison to celebrate life, love, joy, loss, and the human condition. However, a vast number of today’s audiences have limited exposure and knowledge of these styles of music and their creators. It is time we purposefully indulge in music and help to build a community of a more engaged audience, thus fuelling a flourishing future for music and its creators,” said the noted lyricist.

    IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam said with this campaign, IPRS aims to initiate a transformation in the way people are consuming music, thus making music just not a passive consumption habit but a work of art and creation that the audience would take notice of and love to engage with. “Through the wide-ranging performances and sessions every month, IPRS looks forward to educating the audience on different styles of songs and music and the stories behind their creation. The more the audiences know about the music they are listening to, the more informed decisions they will make,” he added.

    One can register here to watch the panel discussion : link- https://bit.ly/2TDPrrN.

  • IPRS kicks off ‘IPRS for Fair Music’ campaign

    IPRS kicks off ‘IPRS for Fair Music’ campaign

    New Delhi: The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), representing nearly 6,500 authors, composers, and publishers from all over India, has launched the ‘IPRS for Fair Music’ campaign to strengthen the music ecosystem in the country.

    The week-long campaign that began on 26 April will witness a slew of activities including panel discussion, virtual knowledge sessions, felicitation of fair music partners to create awareness about the need to safeguard the creators’ right to fair compensation.

    “At IPRS, we strongly advocate why fair trade of music is critical and how it will help the original creators. Digitisation and other technological advancements have empowered creators and taken the music far and near. But at the same time, the creator stands a higher risk of his/her creative ideas getting copied. So, there is a need to protect the rights of the music right holders,” said IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam. “We are pleased to launch this campaign to spread this message across platforms. Fairtrade music is a practice that needs to be accepted and followed in India.”

    On Monday, IPRS organised a virtual panel discussion in partnership with Indiantelevision.com and Iprmentlaw, which focused on the challenges and opportunities and the need to build a healthy ecosystem for music in India.

    It will also organise ‘Know Your Rights’ – a virtual knowledge session with eminent lawyer Ameet Datta. There will also be a session on music licensing and fair pay for music to address the frequently asked questions about different licensing options based on usage and platform. IPRS will also felicitate its fair music partners, for endorsing fair trade music.

    “The exploitation of any creative work is entitled to be duly credited and remunerated. We need to build more awareness about fair pay and fair play of music,” said noted lyricist, poet and screenwriter Manoj Muntashir.

  • Intellectual Property Rights is the oxygen for creators, say industry experts

    Intellectual Property Rights is the oxygen for creators, say industry experts

    MUMBAI: As we move towards a content-based economy, the question of ownership has taken centre-stage. With a wide gamut of content being produced and consumed, establishing and protecting Intellectual Property (IP) rights is essential for content creators and the businesses that host/promote it.

    To drive forward the conversation around licensing and paid consumption of music in India, The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) in association with Indiantelevision.com and Iprmentlaw organised a panel discussion hosting eminent members of the Indian music industry. The panel discussion was moderated by Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO & editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari and Iprment Law founder Anushree Rauta. 

    The panelists unanimously suggested that the royalty and copyright act in India needs serious revision. Industry experts who took part in the discussion claimed that proper implementation of the copyright act in India could benefit music creators financially, as most of their scores are being aired on television channels, OTT, radio, and on other programs without royalty. 

    Intellectual Property rights: The oxygen for music creators

    During the panel discussion, Wanvari described Intellectual Property rights (IPR) as the oxygen for music content creators. Panel members seemed to agree with Wanvari’s view, and asserted that IPR is very much necessary to ensure the stability of the music industry. 

    “Intellectual Property forms the base for the industry. The originator should always be awarded and acknowledged for it. It is very vital,” said Tunecore India head Heena Kriplani. 

    Music director Raju Singh deemed IPR as the shield of protection music creators have. In fact, IPR is the ”core existence of what we create”, he added.

    Turnkey Music and Publishing MD Atul Churamani said, “The backbone of the entertainment business is IP. Whatever we are creating, is protected by Intellectual Property rights.” 

    The royalty dilemma and copyright issues

    Issues related to royalty and copyrights are one of the most common challenges faced by composers in the country. Supreme Court advocate Harsh Kaushik revealed that the royalty business in India is confusing. 

    “The ongoing debate is if the song recording is being exploited, whether the underlying works need to be compensated separately or not,” said Kaushik. 

    IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam said that copyright-related laws in India should be made in such a way that they should help the business. 

    “Digital royalties have sprung up during the pandemic, but TV royalties went down. In 2021, we distributed Rs 185 crore royalties,” he added remarked. 

    Panelists who attended the event concurred that royalty and copyright acts in India need serious amendments. IPRS which has currently 5,000 members including T-series, Sony Music, Saregama, Universal Music Publishing, Times Music, and Aditya Music collects royalties on behalf of them each time their music is played, be it over the radio, live concerts, or music OTTs. 

    Even though IPRS is continuing its efforts to ensure royalty amount for music creators, the copyright act which may be still in its nascent stage negatively impacts these efforts. Citing the example of royalty collection in foreign countries, Nigam added that the arrival of more royalties could elevate royalty collections to new heights, and may grow up to Rs 700-800 crore from the lowly Rs 180 odd crore now. 

    The revelation from Nigam comes at a time when several radio stations in the country have engaged in legal battles with content creators over the royalty row. 

    Churamani, during the panel discussion, suggested that separate tribunals should be set up to handle cases related to copyright issues. 

    The rising popularity of regional music

    Aditya Music director Aditya Gupta, whose firm holds the music rights of movies like Ala Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Uppena, and Vakeel Saab, revealed that digitalisation has helped his company to stay afloat even during Covid times. He also added that the Indian music industry is witnessing the growing popularity of regional music. Gupta revealed that his company had the. 

    “Luckily for us, last year went well because of new digital platforms. The consumption increased on digital. There were a good number of releases in the regional market. Regional music is growing well in India. Earlier, their distribution was the biggest hurdle, but deep penetration of the internet, smartphones have removed that obstacle. The consumption is growing,” added Gupta. 

    On the other hand, TM Talent Management founder Tarsame Mittal said that the pandemic has hit their business very badly. 

    “Majority of our business comes from live events. It became Zero suddenly when the pandemic struck. So we tried and looked for alternatives, and we survived somehow,” he shared. 

    Indians should pay for music

    During the panel discussion, Rakesh Nigam and Tarsame Mittal unanimously suggested that Indians should change the way in which they consume music. The duo claimed that we have the affinity to enjoy whatever is available for free, and added that this trend needs to go to ensure the stability of the industry. 

    “In India, most of the music platforms provide free music, be it Spotify, Wynk or Gaana, unlike other countries where these are paid services. We need to create a culture, where people start to pay for the music they listen to. There has to be a cost attached to it,” suggested Nigam. 

  • Saregama strikes long-term music deal with Sanjay Leela Bhansali

    Saregama strikes long-term music deal with Sanjay Leela Bhansali

    KOLKATA: It’s the confluence of two iconic entities in the Indian film and music industry. Saregama and Sanjay Leela Bhansali have now decided to collaborate, where Saregama has come on board as the music label for three forthcoming projects of the award-winning filmmaker. These projects will be the much awaited Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi – the music rights of which have been acquired from Pen Studios; the next untitled Bhansali directorial and his first non-film Hindi originals album which will have music composed by him.

    “Many a childhood memory of mine are of listening to the golden classics of Hindi cinema that the Saregama library holds and imagining my own world of stories around it. These songs and the music have been an essential part in my formative years. What an absolute delightful moment it is for me then that the music of three of my most zealous projects in the near future will add to this rich legacy of Saregama. This is a special collaboration for me, and one which is personal,” Bhansali said.

    Saregama India managing director Vikram Mehra commented, “There is history that breathes in the golden libraries of Saregama. And we believe history is about to be made again with our partnership with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. In today’s modern times of Hindi cinema, few raconteurs have come close to the consistent brilliance that he has shown in his movies and the music that he composes. His music sense is unparalleled – it imparts his stories a narrative purpose, and the songs stand on their own as that which transcend the immediate to find a more permanent place in our hearts.”

    “Saregama has preserved the work of some of the biggest talent from our music and film industry, and what an apt addition this will be. I can't wait for us to bring the music of three of Bhansali’s projects to audiences. It’s going to be special, for sure,” he added further.

  • 9X Media elevates Kanan Dave to SpotlampE business head

    9X Media elevates Kanan Dave to SpotlampE business head

    New Delhi: Music network 9X Media, which also owns SpotlampE and other digital products, has elevated marketing lead Kanan Dave to a business head role.

    As business head for SpotlampE, Dave will drive the next phase of growth, strategy and the creative development for SpotlampE. 

    An experienced industry professional with a career spanning over 15 years in the media and entertainment sector, Dave has been heading marketing at 9X Media for the past two years. In her earlier roles at UTV and Disney, she managed the music and film marketing business and worked on more than 50 movies across languages.

    “I am extremely happy to be a part of the company’s vision. SpotlampE has been a disruptor in the Indian music industry, giving independent and original music a great platform,” said Dave. “The Independent music industry is at the beginning of a new era, driving deeper engagements in multiple genres and languages across the country and offering compelling content to artists, partners and fans. I look forward to working with the artists and creators alongside brands and media platforms to grow the music landscape further.”

  • Music Broadcast terminates acquisition deal with RBNL

    Music Broadcast terminates acquisition deal with RBNL

    MUMBAI: Jagran Prakash's Music Broadcast, which owns and operates Radio City, has terminated its deal with Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd (RBNL) for the acquisition of Big FM. The Rs 1,050-crore deal has been called off as both parties have not received approval from the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB). 

    It was in 2019 that Music Broadcast entered into definitive agreements with Reliance Capital, Reliance Entertainment Networks, and Reliance Broadcast Network. As the long stop date under the definitive agreements has expired, the acquisition deal between the parties also gets terminated. 

    "This is in reference to our intimation dated 12 June 2019, informing about the decision of the company to acquire Big FM. Pursuant to Regulation 30 read with Schedule III (Part A) and any other applicable provisions of SEBI listing regulations, the board of directors of the company in their meeting held on 8 April 2021 has decided not to pursue the proposed investment in Big FM and will be terminating the definitive transaction documents with immediate effect," said Music Broadcast in a filing to BSE. 

    As a part of the acquisition deal, Music Broadcast had agreed to acquire a 24 per cent equity stake of RBNL by way of a preferential allotment. Later, subject to regulatory approvals, Music Broadcast would have acquired the remaining equity shares held by RBNL. 

    Music Broadcast, in a statement, revealed that the termination of acquisition will not have any impact on the ongoing business operations of the company. 

  • T-Series joins IPRS, provides big boost to Indian music publishing industry

    T-Series joins IPRS, provides big boost to Indian music publishing industry

    New Delhi: Indian music label T-Series has finally joined the membership of The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), marking a watershed moment in the Indian music industry.

    The latest deal is set to provide a game changing impetus to the IPRS, the registered Indian Copyright Society representing music composers, lyricists and owner publishers of music, who have been persistently making efforts to bring all major music companies onboard.

    Super Cassettes Industries Ltd, popularly known as T-Series, will bring to IPRS a vast music library of more than 200,000 titles, including 50,000 plus music videos, comprising of more than 15,000 hours of music including musical compositions and lyrics forming part of songs/music videos spread across more than 15 Indian languages such as Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Haryanvi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Rajasthani, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Oriya, read a joint statement issued by the company on Friday.

    Terming it as a homecoming for T-Series, IPRS chairman and renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar said, "This is a win-win proposition for T-Series and for our author and music composer members who will benefit tremendously. The entire music industry is united today in its determination that creators, music businesses all will work together for the common cause. I am joined by my fellow directors of IPRS in saying I also look forward to welcoming Bhushan Kumar on the Board of IPRS”.

    T-Series’ presence as a member of IPRS will not only significantly enhance the music publishing ecosystem in India, but improve the ease of doing business for numerous music licensees including broadcasters, digital services, telcos and various other small businesses.

    T-Series chairman & MD Bhushan Kumar said it was a logical progression for the company. "Copyright is in the heart and soul of what T-Series creates. Today the entire industry, creators, music businesses, all united, represent a seamless coalition of stakeholders contributing to our country’s progress and working together in our common interest.”

    Over the years, IPRS has been roping in music publishers, lyricists, and composers as members. Other industry majors including Saregama, Universal Music, Sony Music, and Times Music are already a part of it.

    Universal Music Group, managing director and CEO (India and South Asia), Devraj Sanyal, Managing Director & CEO said it was important for all the major players to band together to push the agenda of fairness, transparency, equitable remunerations for both owner publishers and author composers. "I’m sure we will now see a golden age dawn for creators and copyright owners," said Sanyal.

    In 2019, IPRS was credited by the CISAC as being the fastest growing copyright society in the world. The deal between IPRS and T-Series is momentous because licensing music can now have a single-window clearance process, wherein those seeking rights to use music in a recording or a video or a commercial need to look no further than the IPRS.

  • This April Fool’s Day, MTV says “The Joke Is on Us”!

    This April Fool’s Day, MTV says “The Joke Is on Us”!

    MUMBAI: Gives you “Mazak Ban Gayi Zindagi” feels, right? As we continue to share a hearty laughter on different jokes and memes all through the day, little do we realize, “The Joke is on Us”, courtesy- Society and its unreasonable expectations. And while we continue to be in the rat trap, MTV is here to remind us this April Fool’s Day that the joke’s on us, through a bone tickling yet an impactful brand film. 

    The April Fool’s Day brand film by MTV opens to a family setting and showcases a boy, who is passionate to learn guitar but is burdened by the gyaan of “Board exams aa rahe hain. Yeh ek saal focus karo, badmein toh aish hi hain.” The progression follows when he tries to pick up his hobby during his entrance exams, MBA preparation and Marriage. Finally, when the boy, all settled now, asks his parents “Lo ho gaya settle! Kya ab mein apni zindagi jee sakta hoon”, he is reminded of his current responsibilities as a father. 

    Relatable much.

    In a fine blend of quirk and impact, the film showcases the guitar as a symbol of joke that our life has been playing on us and unfortunately, there’s no escape from it. Towards the end of the film, we see the protagonist conditioning his baby in a similar fashion, which is a blatant reminder of how certain conventions are followed across generations.

    So, this April Fool’s Day, raise a toast with MTV and have a laugh for being the fools we never intended to be!

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNAR-1pHHgt/?igshid=45xpfme8q38l

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/89743390101/posts/10158865497990102/?vh=e&d=n

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/mtvindia/status/1376527059934060545?s=21

  • Hungama Music brings Dolby Atmos to music streaming in India

    Hungama Music brings Dolby Atmos to music streaming in India

    MUMBAI: Domestic music streaming platform Hungama Music and US-based audio tech major Dolby Laboratories have joined forces to offer a premium and high-quality streaming experience in India.

    Hungama Music users with compatible Dolby Atmos enabled mobile devices will be able to enjoy a growing library of music in Dolby Atmos from Indian music label T-Series, as well as local artists.

    Hungama Digital Media  COO Siddhartha Roy said, “We have always worked towards elevating the consumer experience on our platform by combining technology with a diverse library. Our work with Dolby is yet another step towards offering Indian users a premium and high-quality music streaming experience. Through this our users will be able to listen to music in an even more immersive and engaging way.”

    “Dolby Atmos Music is redefining how music is created and has been well embraced by artists in India, who are using it as a tool to create a deeper way to connect with their audience more intimately,” said Dolby Laboratories emerging markets MD Pankaj Kedia. “Together with Hungama Music, we are expanding the global reach of Dolby Atmos Music by enabling a more immersive and exciting way for music fans in India to enjoy their favourite songs and albums.”

    Here is a link to their campaign together- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHno9QcTOp

    T-Series  president Neeraj Kalyan said, “We have over the years worked closely with Dolby in delivering the Dolby Atmos experience in the cinemas. Adoption of Dolby Atmos for our music tracks was a natural choice, and we are committed to scaling up our music catalogue in Dolby Atmos.”

    Here is the link to the full playlist- https://www.hungama.com/playlists/dolby-atmos-collection/107457/

  • Sony Music Kids enters podcast scene with audio stories

    Sony Music Kids enters podcast scene with audio stories

    MUMBAI: In a first, Sony Music Kids has partnered with Eklavya Foundation to bring 67 Chakmak Kathayein in the form of audio stories and podcasts. Providing a modern twist to these classic tales of information and entertainment, the association will deliver this original content to 240 audio streaming platforms worldwide. Catering to the demands of a whole new generation of children and adults alike, that prefer consuming content on digital mediums, Sony Music Kids will release the first eight Chakmak Kathayein on 19 March 2021, as ‘Exam Break’ stories.

    In a bid to give kids the perfect break from their hectic study schedules, the first volume of Chakmak Kathayein will include eight engrossing stories titled Bhaat ki Khushbu Aaj Bhi Yaad Hai, Kala Chaand, Kala Pathar, Pass Tha; Fail Bataya, Raju Ram Sa, Tan Tan Tan, Langda Gudda and Khazane Ki Khoj respectively.

    With Chakmak Kathayein, Sony Music Kids will bring stories that are relevant, poignant, and engaging to kids of all ages and also evoke a feeling of nostalgia for their families who have grown up listening and reading stories that are fun, and nuggets of lessons for life. These stories include a beautiful tale of a child fascinated by his new teacher who has come from the city, incidents of childhood mischief, fascination and a never-ending urge to explore new things, and tummy knots that bring alive the fears of failing exams in school that hit you just as hard as an adult as it did when you were a kid.

     Sony Music Kids head Anjana Devraj said listening to music, podcasts and audio stories encourages kids to use their mind’s eye, thus helping in increasing memory and retention skills, improving attention and concentration skills and basically stimulating their imagination.

    “Media consumption has grown exponentially, and the pandemic has seen devices land up in everybody’s hands, including kids from rather small ages. By bringing Chakmak Kathayein and family friendly content in audio formats, we hope to maximise the learning potential of children, reduce screen time, and create options of quality time learning and entertainment. Chakmak has been a name that has carved out an ever-lasting legacy in their space and we’re glad to associate with them and have their interesting stories being narrated and made available world-over in a digital format,” added Devraj.

     

    Chakmak Kathayein will be available on YouTube, Google Play Music, Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, Apple Music, Hungama Music, Gaana.com and Jio Saavn – http://bit.ly/ChakmakSMK