Click to play videoMumbai: Bollywood’s music composers and lyricists are up in arms against the film-producers and music labels alleging that royalties for their creations haven't been paid to them for over four years now.
They are now demanding a 50 per cent share in royalties earned through a film’s soundtrack. Prominent musicians and lyricists including Javed Akhtar, SEL, Vishal-Shekhar, Prasoon Joshi and Anu Malik have come together with these demands.
“We all are coming together to form a rule that if we are not getting royalties we are not working. It is really getting strong now because there are many composers who understand the meaning of royalties. If we are not getting royalties, we are not going to sign any film,” says music composer Anu Malik.
Also in their list of demands is the right to retain the copyright of the soundtrack, something which traditionally vested with the film producer and the music company.
“A percentage of IP does stay with us and second is to get the percentage of income on it. It's a good thing for composers and lyricist to get that because how short a spare a music composers can have so its important for there future,” says music composer Ehsaan.
Though the lobby of music directors and lyricists are ready to take the matter up to the Supreme Court, the music companies seem to be in a mood to negotiate.
“I think I would not be fair if I say that they shoudn’t be getting it, they are entitles for a profit share because they are responsible to create great hits so they need to be recognised. As I said it is the commercial call whether they should be paid 50 per cent really depends upon what the upfront money is being paid.
Unfortunately the model in India is very different than the global model. In globally you work on a profit share all across and here when you buy music rights from the producer you pay lump sum amount as MG's. So if you pay that kind of money and you say you want share in profit then it may not be fair,” says BIG Music CEO, Kulmeet Makkar.
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