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Bollywood music artists to take on labels over royalties
Mumbai, May 12 : Close on the heels of the stand off between the producers and multiplex owners, Bollywood music composers and lyricists have taken on music labels over issues like royalties and copyrights. The lyricists of the USD 151 million market led by veterans like Gulzaar, Javed Akthar, Prasoon Joshi and A R Rahman have taken on music labels regarding pay cheques, copyright and royalty issues.
According to reports, music director Suleman said, ''It should have happened earlier. It's good that people have started realising this issue and getting together to fight against it.'' Stating that such issues date back to sixties, when composers like Laxmikant Pyarelal and R D Burman never saw royalties, Suleman said, ''some of their famous songs have been exploited over the limit, which never went to him. That is why we want to ensure that in our old age we will be taken care of by our property.'' ''If you ask me, I would be happier if singers too got royalties instead of being paid a meagre amount for lending their voices.
Singers have to depend on films alone for their livelihood. It would be difficult to make ends meet. Singers today are surviving because of the shows they do,'' commented playback singer Udit Narayan.
Meanwhile, Lyricist Sameer was also vocal that the case has been in the Supreme Court since last five years and the music companies were earning so much from different resources like remixes, radio and ringtones but were not ready pay a single rupee as royalty.
He further informed that Rahman had even refused to compose a song for ''Om Shanti Om'' as the producers were not ready to comply with his demands of retaining the rights over his songs.
However, T-Series chairman and managing director Bhushan Kumar has denied any storm brewing between the artists and labels.
''If that was the case then composers like Irfan, Suleman and Rahman would not be working with us. I have even dealt with Rahman directly and bought the rights of 'Slumdog Millionaire' from him.
What I have heard is that the composers and lyricists have been fighting with the IPRS (Intellectual property Rights). But as far as T-Series is concerned the composers we normally work with have had no problems,'' he stated.
According to a KPMG report, India's music industry is projected to grow to USD 216 million by 2013.
According to reports, music director Suleman said, ''It should have happened earlier. It's good that people have started realising this issue and getting together to fight against it.'' Stating that such issues date back to sixties, when composers like Laxmikant Pyarelal and R D Burman never saw royalties, Suleman said, ''some of their famous songs have been exploited over the limit, which never went to him. That is why we want to ensure that in our old age we will be taken care of by our property.'' ''If you ask me, I would be happier if singers too got royalties instead of being paid a meagre amount for lending their voices.
Singers have to depend on films alone for their livelihood. It would be difficult to make ends meet. Singers today are surviving because of the shows they do,'' commented playback singer Udit Narayan.
Meanwhile, Lyricist Sameer was also vocal that the case has been in the Supreme Court since last five years and the music companies were earning so much from different resources like remixes, radio and ringtones but were not ready pay a single rupee as royalty.
He further informed that Rahman had even refused to compose a song for ''Om Shanti Om'' as the producers were not ready to comply with his demands of retaining the rights over his songs.
However, T-Series chairman and managing director Bhushan Kumar has denied any storm brewing between the artists and labels.
''If that was the case then composers like Irfan, Suleman and Rahman would not be working with us. I have even dealt with Rahman directly and bought the rights of 'Slumdog Millionaire' from him.
What I have heard is that the composers and lyricists have been fighting with the IPRS (Intellectual property Rights). But as far as T-Series is concerned the composers we normally work with have had no problems,'' he stated.
According to a KPMG report, India's music industry is projected to grow to USD 216 million by 2013.
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