"With faith and trust of singers and musicians-- royalty becomes reality-- but Membership of ISAMRA is a must," insist Anup Jalota, Sonu Nigam and Sanjay Tandon--backed by Shahid (Mohd) Rafi !! By Sr. Journalist Chaitanya Padukone

The Indian Singers’ and Musicians’ Rights Association (ISAMRA) announced a historic milestone at its 12th Annual General Meeting, where royalties will now be distributed to not only singers but also musicians, chorus singers, and session artists for the first time in Indian music history

The initiative will initially benefit 62 musicians and 40 chorus singers, with royalties distributed by ISAMRA Founder Sanjay Tandon, Chairman Anup Jalota, and notable artists like Sonu Nigam and Udit Narayan, among others

Sonu Nigam highlighted the significance of this achievement, emphasizing that the trust and faith within the music community have been crucial in reaching this milestone, ensuring rightful royalties for all contributors

Sanjay Tandon emphasized the challenge of identifying non-featured artists and urged them to join ISAMRA to claim their rightful dues Legal heirs of deceased artists can also become members to claim royalties with valid legal documentation.

Anup Jalota stressed the necessity of membership for collecting royalties, with lifetime membership fees set at Rs 10,000 for singers and Rs 2,000 for musicians, which can be adjusted against their royalties

Celebrities like Jaspinder Narula and Shailendra Singh expressed personal gratitude and described the initiative as a long-awaited triumph for the music community, highlighting its importance

ISAMRA has earmarked Rs 45 crore for distribution, covering a wide range of songs from recent hits to classic anthems, thereby transforming the music rights landscape in India.

Udit Narayan praised ISAMRA's program, acknowledging the hard-fought success achieved for the music community's benefit, after years of struggle

Shahid Rafi, son of the legendary Mohammed Rafi, commended the dedicated efforts of Sanjay Tandon, Anup Jalota, Sonu Nigam, and the ISAMRA team in making this royalty distribution a reality for artists and their legal successors