Saregama, one of India’s leading music labels, has called on global streaming platforms to ensure no royalties are allocated to music created entirely by artificial intelligence. The firm highlights that while AI-generated content is present, it currently yields little listener engagement and insists on rewarding authentic intellectual property that drives real value.
- No revenue assigned to purely AI-generated music, says Saregama
- Company to explore AI licensing as new revenue source
- Strong focus on paid streaming growth in India
What happened
Saregama has publicly communicated to major streaming services that AI-generated music, often referred to by the company as 'slop,' should not receive royalty payments. According to Vikram Mehra, Managing Director of Saregama India, although this category of music is expanding on platforms, it currently attracts negligible audience traction and does not impact Saregama’s market share or revenue.
In the same discussion, Saregama revealed plans to engage commercially with AI-related licensing opportunities, following a trend seen with global labels licensing their music catalogs to generative AI platforms. The company also launched an AI efficiency team focused on using AI tools to detect copyright infringements and optimize operational workflows.
Why it matters
Saregama’s position reflects a broader industry challenge of balancing innovation with protecting creators’ rights in the digital music ecosystem. By pushing for royalties to be paid only on genuine intellectual property, the firm stresses the importance of maintaining economic incentives for artists and labels in an AI-influenced marketplace.
Their advocacy for moving away from fixed-fee licensing models on short-form video platforms towards advertising-driven revenue models illustrates a desire to better capture value from growing consumption formats. Additionally, their confidence in the willingness of Indian consumers to pay for music subscriptions supports the industry's strategic shift towards paid streaming services.
What to watch next
Monitor how global streaming platforms respond to Saregama and other labels’ pressure not to monetize purely AI-generated content. Industry agreements or policy changes around royalty allocation frameworks could significantly impact how AI music is integrated into streaming catalogs in India and worldwide.
Also watch for developments in Saregama’s AI licensing ventures and whether these deals become a meaningful new income source. The company’s continued investment in AI technology for copyright enforcement and content quality control may set precedents for improved management of music rights in the AI era.