Artists turn label owners, hunt for the right note

music markets globally, with the recorded music industry crossing ₹3,000 crore in annual revenues and digital contributing over 60%," said Vitasta Kaul, chief marketing officer, Hoopr, a music licensing platform. "However, per-stream payouts remain among the lowest globally, often fetching a few paise per stream.

This pushes artists to seek ownership and control through their own labels, enabling them to monetize across sync, brands, live IP (intellectual property), and global platforms rather than relying solely on streaming royalties.”In a statement to announce the launch of Albuquerque Records, Ravichander had described it as an important step for himself both creatively and strategically. “Before films, I was deeply invested in independent music, and this label gives me a home for both my film and non-film work, while also supporting new, talented artists who deserve to be seen and heard," he had said.

"We want to build a strong catalogue, introduce original voices, and fuel a brand that pushes the regional POP culture forward. To begin with, select original soundtrack projects of mine will be released under the label, along with all my POP music.”Artists today operate like small creative businesses by releasing music, content, and collaborations, and a personal label simply formalizes that ecosystem, agreed Uday Singh Gauri, chief executive at Dharma Collab Artists Agency.

“There is a decentralization in the industry and it's giving space to diverse voices and genres. There’s also a growing emphasis on ensuring the music and the live experience speak the same language.