Trouble for YRF, Sony & T-series: ED raids music companies for non-payment of royalties to singers

Javed Akhtar has been leading the fight against royalties for music artistes for a long time. 

And as a result,  the Enforcement Directorate raided the top music companies on Friday. According to ET, Offices of T-Series, Saregama, Universal Music Group and Yashraj Films were raided as a part of probe into alleged non-payment of dues of artistes.

The raids were simultaneously conducted at 10-12 locations but Music labels tagged them as another survey. “These are surveys, not raids,” said Vinod Bhanushali, president – marketing, media & publishing, at T-Series. “And we are cooperating with ED.” A YashRaj films spokesperson confirmed that ED officials visited them to assess royalties paid to certain artistes. 

A well known singer had filed an FIR in Delhi against industry bodies Indian Performing Right Society Ltd (IPRS) and Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) for non-payment of dues and irregularities in payment a few months back. ED has begun its investigation after that.

Javed Akhtar who is one of complainants has also got his statement recorded earlier.