Sonu Nigam has opened up about one of the toughest phases of his professional journey, revealing how his decision to speak for singers’ copyright and royalty rights affected his career. The iconic playback singer said that he never thought that speaking up for a bigger cause would cost him work from leading music labels. For Sonu, the struggle, despite the setbacks, was worth it as it helped bring positive changes to the Indian music industry. Now his candid remarks have sparked fresh debate among music fans and industry insiders.
Sonu Nigam reveals how his fight for royalties affected his career
Speaking on Komal Nahta’s podcast Game Changers: The Music Series, Sonu Nigam explained how his campaign for singers’ rights changed the course of his career. “My time came, then it passed, and now it has come back again. It’s all a matter of time. When I was at my peak, people gave me so much love. I was releasing albums, people were going crazy for them, and even my posters used to sell,” he said. Recalling what happened after he raised the issue of copyright and royalties, Sonu added, “Then I raised the copyright issue. T-Series banned me. Zee Music also stopped working with me. They said, ‘He’s become an activist.'” He further said, “I never thought I would be banned. I believed we would eventually resolve the issue, but things only kept getting worse. 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.”
Singer says the fight eventually changed the industry
Even though the campaign affected his career, Sonu said the outcome has been positive. “Today, things have changed. Those very music labels are paying royalties to singers. We now meet with affection, sit together and even share meals,” he said. The singer also spoke about the inspiration behind his mission, adding, “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. It was as if He told me, ‘You will leave your career at its peak and take up this challenge. If you don’t, no one else will have the courage.'” His comments underline his belief that the struggle was about protecting the rights of singers rather than personal success.
Sonu Nigam continues to remain one of India’s leading voices
For more than three decades now, Sonu Nigam has been one of the most celebrated playback singers of Indian cinema. He has given countless hit songs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and many other languages and has won various awards and a loyal fan following. He still lends his voice to films, independent music projects, and still plays concerts all over the world to this day. His recent revelations have not only shown his contribution as a singer but also as a person advocating better rights and recognition for artists in the Indian music industry.
