Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL India) has been granted registration as a copyright society under the Copyright Act, 1957, a development that could reshape how sound recording rights are licensed and administered in India.
The registration gives PPL India formal recognition to collectively manage and license sound recording rights on behalf of its member labels, providing a statutory framework for royalty collection and distribution.
Founded in 1941, PPL India represents nearly 500 Indian and international music labels, including T-Series, Sony Music India, Universal Music India, Times Music, Lahari Music and Aditya Music. The organisation licenses the use of recorded music across a range of commercial settings, including hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, shopping centres, offices, events and radio broadcasters.
The approval is expected to bring greater clarity to India’s music licensing ecosystem. Industry observers have long pointed to disputes around public performance licensing, with some music users questioning licensing obligations in the absence of copyright society registration. The new status is likely to strengthen the legal framework governing the use of recorded music in commercial environments.
Commenting on the development, G B Aayeer, Managing Director and CEO of PPL India, said the registration represented an important milestone for both the organisation and the labels it represents.
“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.”
Aayeer added that the organisation would continue working towards improving licensing processes and ensuring that rights holders are fairly compensated for the commercial use of their music.
PPL India Chairman Mandar Thakur said the registration would provide music users with a clearer mechanism for obtaining licences while strengthening the collective administration of sound recording rights.
“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.”
The development comes at a time when music consumption continues to expand across streaming services, short-form video platforms, public venues and digital content ecosystems. As the number of businesses using recorded music grows, the role of rights management organisations in licensing, royalty collection and compliance is becoming increasingly important for labels, artists and rights holders.
For India’s recorded music sector, the registration provides a formal structure for the administration of neighbouring rights and could help streamline the relationship between music users and rights owners going forward.
