Indian Music Industry, heavily dependent on cashflows, hit hard by Coronavirus; Smaller Labels Face Existential Threat

The Indian Music Industry’s members whose existence is solely dependent on releases of feature films, public performance revenues from events and concerts amongst others have started to suffer on account of drastically reduced cashflows as film releases have been stalled and public performances revenues have dried due to cancelled music events and F&B outlets being shut.
IMI members follow a business model where they pay minimum guarantees (MGs) to film producers who demand substantial money upfront, well in advance for film music acquisitions. The music industry’s money is locked into film releases which may now be indefinitely postponed with no signs of predictable recovery. Around 80% of revenues come from film music for the recorded music industry.
Another fall out is the large numbers of artists, technicians, sessions musicians being rendered unemployed with the closure of film production, live events, F&B sector.

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