India’s record industry trade group IMI has signed what it is calling a “historic agreement” with ISRA, the country’s collecting society for singers and performers. The two organisations say that they hope a closer alliance will “help the music market grow for the common benefit of all stakeholders across the music ecosystem in India”.
In particular, the two groups say they will work together in a bid to seek more government support to “tackle the growing menace of digital piracy and non-recognition of copyright”. Both labels and artists reckon more political support is needed in that domain to properly achieve the potential of the country’s recorded music market.
Confirming the new agreement, Shri Sanjay Tandon – founder and CEO of ISRA, or the Indian Singers’ Rights Association – says: “It’s great to see the getting together of record labels and artists at last. It will now enable the music industry as a whole to grow and prosper to the level that it should. This historic agreement should be music for all”.
Meanwhile, Blaise Fernandes – President & CEO of IMI, or the Indian Music Industry – adds: “The historic accord will be the growth engine for the Indian music industry to propel itself into the top ten markets in the world. When all stakeholders in the music ecosystem work together, a melody happens and this has been the case globally”.
On signing the agreement, the two organisations also thanked India’s Commerce And Industry Minster Shri Piyush Goyal for “his unconditional support to the artist community and the music industry”.
They then added: “[We] look forward to working with Shri Goyal and [his department] to ensure that the industry unlocks its full potential and realises the dream of the Prime Minister of India to encourage Indian music and strengthen this soft power of the country”.