Traditionally, Indian music does not have a system of honouring musicians financially. And not defining the system has resulted in the copyright issues of the industry. “Traditionally, in our method of teaching, we’ve not had any system of commercially acknowledging a musician’s work. We’ve always respectfully remembered the person, honoured him/her with a token that we felt was appropriate. The feudal patronage encouraged the idea of being subservient and that didn’t set any unspoken rules in place to define how it needs to be honoured and ethically treated. Its repercussions are now visible today,” says eminent vocalist Shubha Mudgal.
Mudgal, who has been ecstatic ever since the copyright law was tabled and passed by the government, says that it was one of those victorious moments for the music industry. “The law was a much-needed breather from the problems that the industry was plagued with. We don’t have the culture for professional management of music. Till date I’ve seen one of the family members from the musician’s family take charge of everything from handling events to finances,” she says citing an example of how musicians are often made to feel as if they shouldn’t be charging any money at all. “When you go to a record label with your product, you are already made to feel vulnerable or in a position of favour. You are invited to record and nobody after that discusses the terms and conditions of the association. Especially, when you are aware of that lihaz (respecting someone’s presence, designation, age) and shouldn’t be talking money as an artiste,” adds Mudgal.
As far as contracts and agreements are concerned, music industry in the country has a long way to go is what Mudgal believes. “Most often, our musicians aren’t even aware of what they are signing in for. You need to understand, read the clauses and ensure you aren’t taken for a ride,” says Mudgal.
As an ardent music lover, she’s essayed different roles from being a vocalist to a music consultant. “I loved being a part of behind-the-scenes activities. And as a consultant with a record label, I realised what a revelation it was to see the awareness among musicians. It is important to understand the importance of the contract. I was shocked to know how most musicians were ignorant about it,” says Mudgal. She adds that it is necessary to have documentation of your work to avoid legal hassles. “Also, people need to keep their egos aside. If people in the industry come together keeping their inflated egos aside, then we could actually see results of this law. It’s certainly not a magic wand that could resolve all issues in a day. But it could definitely set the ball rolling,” elaborates Mudgal.
From licensing in the industry to royalty issues, Mudgal says there is a huge dearth of expertise and knowledge dealing with the subjects. “There are such complex parameters and with a not so subtle hierarchy in place, that we cannot imagine the problems we have to deal with. It is a grim situation of sorts. The only thing that is keeping the industry alive is the Internet. To help this situation we need a vision that will help solve the issues,” says Mudgal.