The Indian Performing Right Society

IPRS (The Indian Performing Right Society Limited) is India's only government-registered copyright society representing authors, composers, and music publishers. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Mumbai, it licenses the public performance, communication to the public, and digital transmission of musical works, collecting royalties from music users and distributing them to over 20,000 creator and publisher members.

How IPRS Works

IPRS issues blanket licenses to radio stations, television broadcasters, streaming platforms, live event organizers, restaurants, retail stores, and any business that plays music publicly in India. License fees are collected and distributed to members based on usage data gathered from streaming reports, broadcast logs, and live event set lists.

The Government of India renewed IPRS's registration as a Copyright Society on January 21, 2025, with retrospective effect from November 28, 2022. This registration is valid for five years. IPRS operates under the Copyright Act of 1957 and the Copyright Rules of 2013.

Membership is open to authors (lyricists), composers (music directors), and publishers. Writers can apply online through the IPRS website. Once accepted, members receive a unique membership number (IPI number) and can begin registering works for royalty collection.

In FY 2024-25, IPRS recorded its strongest performance to date. Total collections rose 42% to ₹741.6 crore (approximately EUR 80.5 million), while royalty distributions increased 21% to ₹608.8 crore. Streaming revenue alone crossed ₹600 crore, growing 59% year-on-year. A major back payment from a digital platform contributed to this surge.

According to the CISAC Global Collections Report 2025, India's creator revenues grew 40.5% in 2024. Digital income accounted for 82.7% of total collections, the highest digital share among major markets. IPRS ranks as the fourth-largest society in the Asia-Pacific region. India's global collections ranking jumped from 37th to 23rd in five years.

Live and background collections crossed EUR 10 million for the first time, contributing 14% of the market. Public performance revenues rose to ₹101.7 crore. However, broadcast income fell to 2.3% due to deferred payments, and non-compliance from broadcasters and radio networks remains a structural problem.

IPRS has achieved 96% metadata accuracy through its IPRS 2.0 operating system, implemented with cutting-edge technology for copyright management. The organization also runs the KOLAB songwriting residency program and the Soundscapes of India music showcase festival to support creator development.

CEO Rakesh Nigam has emphasized that digital platforms cannot be the sole driver of creator income, urging broadcasters, radio networks, event organizers, and venues to comply with licensing obligations.

Real-World Example

A Bollywood playback singer and composer registers 30 songs with IPRS. A streaming platform like JioSaavn reports 10 million streams of those songs in a quarter. Two FM radio stations play 5 of the songs regularly, and a concert promoter uses IPRS-licensed music at a festival in Mumbai.

IPRS collects royalties from all three sources. The streaming royalties (the largest share, given that digital accounts for 82.7% of collections) are distributed based on stream counts. The radio royalties are distributed based on airplay logs. The live performance royalties are distributed based on set lists submitted by the event organizer.

If the same songs are played on radio in the United Kingdom, IPRS's reciprocal agreement with PRS for Music means PRS collects those royalties and remits them to IPRS, which distributes them to the composer in the next international distribution cycle.

With ₹608.8 crore distributed in FY 2024-25, a composer whose 30 songs generated significant streaming activity and regular radio airplay might receive anywhere from ₹50,000 to ₹10 lakh or more annually, depending on the scale of usage and their registered share of the works.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are an Indian songwriter, composer, or publisher, IPRS is your only domestic option for collecting performance royalties. There is no competing PRO in India. Joining IPRS is not optional if you want to earn royalties from public performances of your music.

Register every composition with IPRS as soon as it is commercially released. Unregistered works earn zero royalties, even if they accumulate millions of streams. Submit correct metadata including ISRC codes, ISWC numbers, and split sheets. IPRS's 96% metadata accuracy rate means accurate registrations are processed efficiently, but errors in your submissions can still delay payments.

India's music market is growing fast (40.5% in 2024), but compliance gaps mean many venues, broadcasters, and event organizers do not pay for music use. This limits the royalty pool. Support IPRS's licensing efforts by reporting unlicensed use of your music and ensuring that venues where you perform hold valid IPRS licenses.

If your music is played internationally, IPRS's CISAC membership and reciprocal agreements with foreign societies mean those royalties flow back to you. The KOLAB residency program and Soundscapes festival offer networking and career development opportunities for members.

Territory Covered

IPRS covers the territory of India. It is the only government-registered copyright society in India authorized to license the public performance, communication to the public, and digital transmission of musical and literary works associated with musical works. Its registration was renewed by the Central Government on January 21, 2025, with retrospective effect from November 28, 2022, and is valid for five years. IPRS licenses music use within Indian borders only. For performances outside India, IPRS relies on its reciprocal agreements with foreign societies to collect royalties on behalf of its members.

How to Join and Membership Fees

IPRS accepts applications from authors (lyricists), composers (music directors), and publishers. Applicants must have at least one published work. The online application process is available through the IPRS website.

Membership fees (one-time, non-refundable):

• Authors, composers, and legal heirs: INR 1,200 (approximately EUR 13)
• Publishers: INR 2,200 (approximately EUR 24)
• Foreign nationals: different fee structure (check the IPRS website for current rates)

There are no annual dues or recurring membership fees. The one-time application processing fee covers the entire membership. IPRS explicitly cautions that it does not accept applications through third-party agents, and the membership team provides free guidance to applicants.

Requirements:

• At least one published work (film, TV, web series, or non-film work)
• Internet presence of the applicant (YouTube release, streaming platform release, or physical CD release)
• Submission of work notification forms with correct metadata
• For publishers: company registration with PAN and GST (if eligible)

After acceptance, members receive a unique IPI number registered with CISAC and SUISA, which serves as their global identity as a lyricist, composer, or publisher.

Overhead Rate

Under the Copyright Rules, 2013, IPRS is permitted to deduct up to 15% of collected royalties for administrative expenses. In practice, the actual deduction has been significantly lower. In FY 2024-25, total administrative expenses deducted from royalty collections amounted to INR 38.7 crore out of INR 741.6 crore collected, representing approximately 5.2% of total collections. This is well below the 15% statutory maximum and compares favorably to many international PROs.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

IPRS distributions are made a minimum of 4 times per year, in June, September, December, and March, for revenues collected in the previous Indian fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). The distribution schedule by revenue source:

In FY 2024-25, IPRS implemented a system of regular monthly disbursals to ensure predictability for members. Each quarter witnessed royalty payouts exceeding INR 100 crore, with the fourth quarter crossing INR 200 crore. Royalty payables at year-end were contained to less than 10 months of annual income.

Reciprocal Agreements

IPRS is a member of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) and maintains reciprocal agreements with foreign sister societies. When a member's music is performed internationally, the foreign society collects royalties and remits them to IPRS, which distributes them to the member. Conversely, when foreign works are performed in India, IPRS collects royalties and remits them to the appropriate foreign society.

For example, IPRS has a reciprocal agreement with PRS for Music (UK). If an IPRS member's songs are played on UK radio, PRS collects those royalties and remits them to IPRS for distribution to the composer. IPRS distributed INR 16.4 crore to international societies in FY 2024-25.

Notable Members

IPRS represents over 20,000 creator and publisher members. Notable members include:

• Javed Akhtar (lyricist, poet, and Chairperson of IPRS) - one of India's most prominent literary figures, has served as IPRS Chairperson and advocated for creators' rights
• M.B. Srinivasan (late composer, former IPRS Chairman) - founder of the Madras Youth Choir, chaired IPRS for years and fought for composers' and lyricists' royalty rights
• Aashish Rego (composer, Board of Directors of IPRS) - one of the most prolific music composers in Indian television, General Secretary of the Music Composers' Association of India
• Ravindra Jain (late composer and lyricist, Padma Shri awardee) - composed music for over 100 films including Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan

Comparison Table

Videos

Similar PROs

• COMPASS - Singapore's performing rights society, covering a neighboring Asian market
• JASRAC - Japan's performing rights society, the largest PRO in Asia by collections
• KOMCA - South Korea's performing rights society, managing one of Asia's most dynamic music markets
• FILSCAP - Philippines' performing rights society, another major Southeast Asian PRO

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Mechanical Royalties - How mechanical royalties differ from performance royalties
• Blanket License - The licensing model used by IPRS and other PROs
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• IPRS Official Website - Visit IPRS for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings