MUMBAI: Music licensing body The Indian Performing Rights Society has fired the first salvo at establishments in Gujarat, the state that houses the most nine day Navratri extravaganza.
Last week, the IPRS sent legal notices to 10 malls, hotels and restaurants in the state’s de facto capital Ahmedabad, asking them to cough up license fees before they play copyrighted music commercially during the dance and music fest that begins from 19 September. This is the first time the IPRS has cast a stern eye on events in Gujarat, a state that has never been aware of license payments for events like Navratri that use music commercially on a large scale, says IPRS general manager Kunal Sarin.
The idea is to target the venues – like malls and hotels, says Sarin who are primarily responsible for ensuring that Navratri event organisers have procured the requisite licenses. While a few of the venues have already approached the IPRS over the weekend, seeking to comply with the licensing body’s rules, Sarin is clear that legal action will be initiated against the defaulters if they do not fall in line within a week.
It is clear that while the IPRS is also targeting metros like Mumbai where Navratri events like the Falguni Pathak starrer Sankalp and Jain Jagruti Centre are big grossers, it is serious about getting Gujarat and its many Navratri dos to toe the licensing line.
Among the venues that have received a legal notice from the IPRS are Ahmedabad’s Iscon Mall, Grand Bhagwati, Comfort Inn President, Inder Residency, Fortune Landmark, Sarovar Portico, Hotel Kanak, Rock Regency, two hotels belonging to the Neelkanth group and the Sankalp group of hotels.
On the other hand, IMI’s licensing arm- Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) has also been approached by many performing venues for acquiring licenses. Says PPL National sales head Sowmya Chaudhary, “This year the number of venues and pandals approaching us from Ahmedabad, Kota, Gujarat, Kolkata and other places to acquire licenses has increased compared to last year as awareness has been created from the past few years. Over the weekend, we have issued licenses to many venues and will be issuing more this week.”