New Delhi: Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL India), which represents nearly 500 Indian and international music labels, has received registration as a copyright society under the Copyright Act, 1957, marking a significant development for the country’s music licensing ecosystem.
The registration provides PPL India with a statutory framework for the collective administration and licensing of sound recording rights, enabling a more structured mechanism for royalty collection and distribution across the music industry.
Founded in 1941, PPL India is a not-for-profit organisation representing major music companies including T-Series, Sony Music, Universal Music, Times Music, Lahari Music, and Aditya Music. The body licenses the public performance and communication of copyrighted sound recordings across commercial establishments such as hotels, restaurants, retail stores, shopping malls, offices, events, and radio broadcasters.
Industry stakeholders believe the development could help address long-standing licensing disputes. According to PPL India, some commercial users had previously resisted paying licence fees, citing the absence of copyright society registration. The new status is expected to provide greater legal clarity for businesses while ensuring that royalties are appropriately routed to rights holders and artists.
Commenting on the development, G B Aayeer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, PPL India, said, “This registration marks an important milestone for PPL India and the music labels we represent. We are deeply grateful to the Government of India, particularly the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), for recognising our commitment to transparent, efficient and equitable rights management.”
Highlighting the organisation’s future priorities, Aayeer added, “We will continue to focus on improving licensing efficiencies and ensuring that creators and investors in music are fairly rewarded for the use of their repertoire.”
The registration is also expected to create a more transparent and streamlined licensing environment for businesses that use recorded music commercially, while reinforcing copyright compliance across sectors.
Welcoming the move, Mandar Thakur, Chairman, PPL India, said, “The registration strengthens the framework for the collective administration of sound recording rights and provides music users with a transparent mechanism to obtain licences and comply with copyright law.”
Thakur also acknowledged the role played by industry stakeholders in securing the approval, thanking the PPL board and the Indian Music Industry (IMI) for their continued support.
The development comes at a time when India’s music industry is witnessing rapid growth across streaming, digital platforms, public performance venues, and content ecosystems, increasing the importance of effective rights management and royalty administration for creators, labels, and investors alike.
