Music Licensing for Performers in India
Whether you spin records or perform live, Indian copyright law puts some of the licensing responsibility on you. Here's exactly what that means for your situation.
You are jointly responsible
PPL, Novex, and IPRS can pursue the DJ, the venue, and the organiser simultaneously. Your best protection is a contract clause that specifies who holds the licences — and verifying it before you perform.
The one-licence strategy
If your entire setlist uses PPL tracks, you only need one PPL licence. Novex only tracks — one Novex licence. Trakinfo shows which licence covers each track so you can build a compliant single-licence set.
Background vs event licence
A venue's annual background music licence does not cover your DJ set. The venue or organiser needs a separate event licence for the night you perform. Confirm this before you set up.
Three ways to protect yourself as a DJ
Option 1 — Contract clause (recommended). Add this to every booking contract: "The client is responsible for obtaining all required music performance licences (PPL, Novex, IPRS) before the event date." This puts legal responsibility on the party with the event budget. Get it signed before you show up.
Option 2 — Verify the venue's licences. Ask the organiser or venue to share current PPL and Novex licence copies before the event. A legitimate licensed venue can produce these without issue. If they cannot, either decline the booking or factor the licence cost into your fee.
Option 3 — Single-licence setlist. Search your entire proposed setlist on Trakinfo. If every track is PPL, you only need PPL. If every track is Novex, you only need Novex. One licence, clear exposure, significantly cheaper than holding both.
Search your setlist on Trakinfo.
Know which licence covers each track before you perform.
Search your setlist →Original compositions only — no licences needed
If your entire performance is original music you own, no PPL, Novex, or IPRS licence is required. This is the one scenario where a performer has zero third-party obligations.
Performing covers of others' songs
IPRS licence is required for the underlying composition and lyrics. PPL and Novex apply to sound recordings — not to live performances of songs directly. But any backing tracks you use do require PPL or Novex.
Using backing tracks or playback
If you perform with any recorded backing tracks, the rules are the same as a DJ. PPL or Novex licence is needed for those recordings. Joint liability applies to you, the venue, and the organiser.
What to put in your performance rider
As a live performer, your technical rider should include a music licensing clause:
"The venue or promoter is responsible for obtaining any IPRS licence required for public performance of covered musical works. For events involving backing tracks or sound recordings, the promoter is responsible for PPL and Novex licences."
This is standard practice internationally and protects you as the performer.
The wedding gig
If you are performing at a wedding ceremony, the family is exempt from IPRS under Section 52(1)(za). You as the performer providing a commercial service are not automatically covered by that exemption — but in practice enforcement against individual performers at private wedding ceremonies is rare. The cleaner approach is to ensure the organiser or venue holds the relevant licences regardless.
Check your set for third-party recordings.
Search any track and find its licence body in seconds.
Check your set →