Singer Sonu Nigam recently opened up about a difficult time in his career when he claims two of India’s biggest music labels stopped working with him. The reason? He raised his voice for singers’ copyright and royalty rights. In a new interview, the 53-year-old singer shared how his stand for fair pay for artists led to professional setbacks, but he also explained how the music industry has changed since then.
The Copyright Battle That Changed Everything
Sonu Nigam spoke about this phase of his life on Komal Nahta’s podcast called Game Changers: The Music Series. He said that at the peak of his career, he was very popular. People loved his albums, and even his posters used to sell well. But things took a turn when he started talking about copyright issues.
“Then I raised the copyright issue. T-Series banned me. Zee Music also stopped working with me. They said, ‘He’s become an activist.’”
The singer admitted he never thought his stand would lead to a ban. He believed the issue would be resolved through discussion, but instead, the situation got worse. He saw doors closing for him in the music industry.
How He Survived When Work Stopped
During this hard time, Sonu Nigam lost many opportunities to record songs for films. Music labels stopped giving him projects. But he found a way to keep going.
“When I saw doors closing for me, I realised that while they could stop giving me songs, they could never stop me from performing on stage.”
He turned his attention to live performances. This shift helped him stay connected with his audience and continue his career even when film playback work dried up.
Carrying Forward Lata Mangeshkar’s Fight
Sonu Nigam said his fight for singers’ rights was not just about his own career. He felt he was continuing a mission that the late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar had started but could not finish.
“God didn’t make me only to sing. He gave me a purpose—to continue what Lata Mangeshkar ji had started but couldn’t complete.”
He believed he had to take up this challenge, even if it meant putting his career at risk. According to him, no one else would have had the courage to do it.
How the Music Industry Changed
Over time, the Indian music industry saw significant changes. The Copyright Amendment Act of 2012 gave performers stronger rights and introduced royalty protections for singers and creators. These legal changes helped bring a shift in how music companies treated artists.
Sonu Nigam said that after the laws changed, music companies realized that his demands were not unreasonable.
“Today, things have changed. Those very music labels are paying royalties to singers. We now meet with affection, sit together and even share meals. Someone had to bell the cat.”
He added that the same music companies that once stopped working with him have now come back. They now share a warm relationship.
Working with T-Series and Zee Music Again
Sonu Nigam confirmed that he is now working with the same labels again. He mentioned several recent projects, including Laal Singh Chaddha, Shehzada, Mere Dholna, Param Sundari, Pardesiya, Vijoria, and Border 2. He said that things have opened up for him once more.
“After that came Laal Singh Chaddha, Shehzada, Mere Dholna, Param Sundari, Pardesiya, Vijoria and now Border 2. It’s one project after another. People are singing my songs again.”
The singer also reflected on how his old songs are finding new listeners. He believes everything happens in its own time.
His Dispute with T-Series Resurfaced in 2020
While Sonu Nigam said the industry has changed, his conflict with T-Series came up again in 2020. At that time, he publicly criticized the company’s chairman, Bhushan Kumar. He accused Kumar of having too much control over singers and the music industry.
Despite these past issues, Sonu Nigam continues to speak for artists’ rights. He remains active in the industry and is focused on his live performances.
Sonu Nigam’s Upcoming Concerts
Sonu Nigam is currently preparing for a big concert called Revolution at Wembley. He will perform at the OVO Arena Wembley on August 23, 2026.
After the London show, he will bring the Revolution India Tour 2026 to India. The tour starts in October 2026 and will cover many cities including:
- Bengaluru
- Pune
- Surat
- Indore
- Bhopal
- Nagpur
- Lucknow
- Chandigarh
- Jodhpur
The India tour will conclude in March 2027.
Singers’ Royalty Rights in India
The issue of singers’ royalty rights has a long history in India. For many years, singers signed away their rights to recordings in exchange for one-time fees. Lata Mangeshkar was one of the first singers to campaign for royalty rights in the 1960s. Her efforts strained her relationships in the industry, but the legal protections she fought for were only introduced decades later.
The Copyright Amendment Act of 2012 was a major step forward. It gave performers statutory royalty rights. Over time, the industry has slowly accepted royalty payments for performers more broadly.
Sonu Nigam played a key role in pushing for these changes. He said that his stand helped create a better system for singers.
His Thoughts on Forgiveness
When asked if he had forgiven those who distanced themselves from him during that period, Sonu Nigam gave a humble response.
“Who am I to forgive anyone? I’m not important enough to forgive anybody.”
This statement shows that he does not hold grudges and is focused on the positive changes that have happened in the industry.
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The Impact of His Stand
Sonu Nigam’s fight for singers’ rights had a lasting impact on the Indian music industry. His willingness to speak up, even at the cost of his own career, helped bring attention to the issue of fair pay for artists.
Today, music labels are paying royalties to singers. The industry has become more receptive to artists’ rights. Sonu Nigam believes that his demands were never unreasonable, and time has proven him right.
He continues to advocate for artists’ rights while maintaining a successful career in live performances. His story serves as an example of how one person’s stand can lead to positive change for an entire industry.
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