MUSIC ROYALTIES, STREAMING PLATFORMS, AND THE FUTURE OF COPYRIGHT LAW

AUTHOR – AMBIKA RANI, STUDENT AT AMITY LAW SCHOOL/AMITY UNIVERSITY PATNA, BIHAR

BEST CITATION – AMBIKA RANI, POWER, MUSIC ROYALTIES, STREAMING PLATFORMS, AND THE FUTURE OF COPYRIGHT LAW, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (13) OF 2025, PG. 583-586, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

In the music industry, where creative output is both a cultural artifact and a commercial product, copyright law has long served as the legal basis for the protection and monetization of artistic expression. It guarantees that composers, lyricists, musicians, and other creative contributors maintain certain legal rights over their work, enabling them to manage the distribution, performance, and commercialization of their music. These rights, which allow musicians to make a living and reinvest in their craft, have historically been essential to preserving the financial sustainability of music production. However, the development of music distribution technology has significantly changed how royalty regimes function and how music is consumed. The emergence of digital music streaming has completely changed the industry’s economic structure, bringing with it both previously unheard-of worldwide access and serious issues with equitable remuneration. This change raises important concerns about whether existing copyright laws are sufficient to support creative work in a time when music is more accessible than ever before but frequently brings in startlingly little money for many of the artists who create it.