India’s music licensing ecosystem is undergoing a significant transformation with the launch of Sangeet Dwar, a unified digital platform designed to simplify how public performance licences are issued across the country.
Developed through a rare collaboration between major rights bodies—Indian Performing Right Society, Phonographic Performance Limited, Novex Communications, and Recorded Music Performance Limited—the platform brings multiple licensing authorities under a single digital interface. This marks one of the most coordinated attempts to address long-standing inefficiencies in India’s music usage framework.
The official Sangeet Dwar platform can be accessed at https://vasantsangeetdwar.in where users can apply for licences, understand requirements, and manage permissions through a single portal.
India’s live events, weddings, hospitality, and corporate sectors represent a fast-growing market for public music usage. However, licensing has historically been fragmented. Event organisers and venue operators were required to obtain separate permissions from multiple entities because different rights—such as sound recordings and underlying musical works—are controlled by different organizations. This often led to confusion, delays, and widespread non-compliance.
Sangeet Dwar introduces a single-window system that allows users to obtain licences for both live and recorded music through one platform. Whether for concerts, festivals, hotels, or private events, the process is designed to be more accessible, transparent, and efficient.
A key objective behind the initiative is to address the industry’s persistent royalty gap. A significant portion of public music performances in India has traditionally gone unlicensed, resulting in lost revenue not only for record labels and publishers but also for singers, composers, lyricists, and session musicians. By simplifying compliance and standardizing procedures, the platform aims to improve royalty collection and ensure fair compensation across the value chain.
Industry voices have highlighted the importance of such reform. Veteran singer Anup Jalota has noted that the platform helps ensure creators receive their due, while Sanjay Tandon of the Indian Singers and Musicians Rights Association has emphasized how it addresses long-standing structural challenges faced by performers and musicians.
Beyond simplifying licensing, Sangeet Dwar reflects a broader shift toward digitization and formalization within India’s creative industries. By reducing friction and making compliance easier, it has the potential to change behavior in the market—encouraging more organisers and businesses to operate within the legal framework.
As India’s media and entertainment sector continues to expand, the need for stronger intellectual property systems is becoming increasingly urgent. Sangeet Dwar may not resolve every issue immediately, but it signals a clear move toward collaboration over fragmentation and toward technology-led governance.
If widely adopted, the platform could become a foundational layer in India’s evolving music economy, balancing ease of doing business with fair and transparent compensation for creators.