IPRS is associating with international music publisher Kobalt Music Publishing which represents global artists like Dua Lipa, The Weekend, Enrique Iglesias and legends like Bob Marley
The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), the only copyright society in India, representing the authors, composers, and publishers of music, has announced its association with international music publisher Kobalt. IPRS will administer both the performing and mechanical rights of the international catalogues signed to it, which means that all rights licensed to audio streaming services, FM and AM radio and public performance can be licensed in totality. For synchronisation licenses to television and OTT audio-visual platforms, the publishers will continue to issue licenses while the users will get the mechanical and performing licenses from IPRS.
Kobalt Music Publishing represents over 25,000 songwriters, 600 publishers and 20,000 independent artists like Dua Lipa, The Weekend, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull etc as well as legends like Paul Mc. Cartney, Elvis Presley and Bob Marley.
Three standalone international music publishers, Kobalt Music Publishing, Fairwood Music Group, and Konic Records entered the Indian market via sub-publishing agreements with Turnkey Music & Publishing in 2020. Kobalt is the first international publisher to sign with IPRS since its re-admittance into the International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies (CISAC) as a full member in December 2018. CISAC is the apex body of 232 Authors’ Societies in 121 countries, representing more than four million creators.
Once the other international publishers are on board, IPRS can close deals with platforms that have been unable to license international publishing so far. It is a great benefit to the user to be able to come under a single license instead of having to approach multiple publishers for licenses and possibly having to negotiate rates each time.
Speaking on the development, Atul Churamani, Managing Director, Turnkey Music & Publishing, which represents Kobalt’s catalogue in India, said, “This has taken a long time coming and we are delighted that finally, the IPRS is administering the international works we represent for India, while Rakesh Nigam, CEO of IPRS, said, “The streaming platforms have witnessed an upsurge in the consumption of international content. IPRS will now be able to derive the desired value for the international works in India as so far we haven’t been licensed to do so.”
The Indian Performing Right Society is India’s only Copyright Society registered under the Copyright Act, 1957, and counts more than 6,500 of India’s best-known authors, composers, and music publishers as its members.
