The Importance of Music Publishing in India

The Indian music industry is growing at one of the fastest rates in the world. Independent artists are breaking internationally, streaming numbers are skyrocketing, and global media companies are pouring resources into South Asian markets.
But while the creative side of India’s music ecosystem is thriving, one area remains widely misunderstood and underdeveloped:

Music publishing.

Music publishing is the backbone of a sustainable music career. It determines who owns a song, who gets paid when it’s used, and how creators earn money long after the song is released.

As India becomes an influential global music market, the need for strong, transparent, and professional publishing support has never been more important.

Here’s why music publishing matters in India and how Elizabeth Music Group is helping creators navigate this new era.

Why Music Publishing Is Essential in India

1. India’s Music Market Is Evolving Beyond Streaming

Streaming revenue is growing fast, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
Real long-term earnings come from:

• publishing royalties

• synchronization licensing

• performance income

• mechanical royalties

• international collections

Publishing ensures creators collect the money they’re already owed but many Indian artists never see these royalties because they’re not registered properly or don’t understand the system.

As India becomes more globalized, leaving publishing income unclaimed is a massive lost opportunity.

2. Most Creators Still Don’t Understand Their Rights

Many Indian musicians still confuse publishing with distribution or believe that uploading to a DSP automatically protects their music.
It doesn’t.

Without publishing support, creators often:

• lose ownership in their compositions

• sign unfair splits

• miss out on performance royalties

• fail to register their songs internationally

• get pushed out of negotiations with larger entities

Education around copyright law, splits, and royalties is desperately needed.

3. Indian Music Is in High Demand for Sync—but Not Sync-Ready

Indian music is being requested by global brands, streaming platforms, and film studios like never before.
But many Indian creators don’t have:

• clean metadata

• publishing clearance

• stems or alternate mixes

• clearly defined splits

• fast approval structures

This leads to missed opportunities because supervisors need music that is easy to license quickly.

Publishers play a crucial role in making sure songs are one-stop, organized, and ready for sync licensing.

4. Global Royalty Collection Is Nearly Impossible Without a Publisher

Indian creators often miss:

• streaming mechanicals from abroad

• live performance royalties

• radio broadcast income

• sync payments

• international PRO collections

Without proper publishing collection, global royalties disappear into black boxes.
A professional publisher ensures money from around the world actually reaches the creator.

5. India’s Independent Boom Needs Infrastructure

India’s indie scene is exploding from hip-hop and electronic music to indie pop and regional fusion.
But growth without structure leads to:

• disputes

• unpaid earnings

• unrecovered royalties

• broken collaborations

• confusion around ownership

As the creative output increases, so does the need for professional publishing administration.

How Elizabeth Music Group Is Helping Indian Creators Succeed

Elizabeth Music Group was built to bring global-level publishing infrastructure to creators across India and abroad.

Here’s how EMG makes a difference:

1. Global Publishing Collection

We ensure our roster is properly:

• registered worldwide

• set up with PROs and CMOs

• tracked across all international platforms

• collecting every dollar they’re owed

Creators shouldn’t have to chase royalty data - Elizabeth Music Group handles the complexity.

2. Sync Licensing Access

Indian music is in demand, but most creators don’t have access to actual sync opportunities.

Our roster receives:

• high value sync briefs from global supervisors

• pitching opportunities for film, TV, ads, games, and trailers

• guidance on making music sync-ready

• support with stems, metadata, and one-stop clearance

We bridge Indian creators to the global sync market.

3. Split Management and Copyright Protection

We help our creators:

• document splits properly

• negotiate fair agreements

• avoid disputes and lost royalties

Good publishing protects both the creator and the song.

4. Catalog Development and Career Strategy

We assist our writers and producers in building catalogs that attract:

• sync placements

• co-writing opportunities

• collaborations

• production placements

Publishing isn’t just paperwork—it’s long-term career growth.

5. Education and Transparency

A core part of Elizabeth Music Group’s mission is educating creators on:

• what publishing is

• how royalties work

• how to build a sync-ready catalog

• how to grow long-term music income

India’s music ecosystem is maturing, but knowledge has to catch up.
We’re committed to empowering creators!

The Future of Publishing in India

India is on the edge of becoming one of the world’s most influential music markets.
As streaming expands and sync opportunities grow, the creators who understand—and properly manage—their publishing will be the ones who win.

Music publishing is no longer optional.
It’s the foundation for:

• sustainable income

• global expansion

• career longevity

• creative freedom

And this is exactly where Elizabeth Music Group is leading the way.