Popular playback singer Kanika Kapoor, whose name is synonymous with chartbusters such as Baby Doll and Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan, has revealed the brutal monetary reality of the Indian music industry. During a recent conversation with Uorfi Javed on her show Bunkk with Uorfi, Kanika opened up about the singers earning very little for singing tracks and that their actual source of money is elsewhere.
Kanika Kapoor On Singers Getting Paid
When quizzed on a hit song for which she apparently did not earn any money, Kanika confirmed that most Indian singers are in the same condition. She added that the contracts actually only state a nominal payment of ₹101, so it is symbolic and not an actual fee. In her view, even the nation’s most renowned singers are not paid for their best-selling songs and lack royalty or publishing rights. “There is no proper royalty system here. Labels often say they’re doing us a favour,” she said.
Clarifying the way singers really make a living, Kanika explained that live performances are their primary source of income. “As long as your voice is still good and you’re still singing, you can make money. But if tomorrow you are unable to sing, there is no backup or pension plan to rely on,” she explained, underlining the absence of financial stability in the industry.
Kanika explained that although she hasn’t reviewed each artist’s contract, the trend is identical across the board: payment for tracks is still a token amount. The revelation has again sparked debate about the way artists are treated and India’s booming music industry needs a robust royalty system.
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Kanika Kapoor’s star began to shine in 2014 with Baby Doll from Ragini MMS 2, which made her an overnight hit. She continued to lend her voice to a number of blockbuster songs like Lovely (Happy New Year), Desi Look (Ek Paheli Leela), and Beat Pe Booty (A Flying Jatt). Her recent offering, Gori Hai Kalaiyan from Mere Husband Ki Biwi, starring Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar and Rakul Preet Singh, has been popular with audiences.