Ilaiyaraaja Sony Music Dispute: Revenue Sharing Refusal Sparks Court Drama

By AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)
October 22, 2025
Chennai, India

In a tense courtroom showdown, Sony Music Entertainment India Private Limited has refused to share revenue details with legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja. The music giant claims confidentiality over earnings from platforms like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify. This latest twist in the Ilaiyaraaja Sony Music dispute highlights ongoing battles over copyright and royalties in India’s music industry. 0 But why is this happening now? And what does it mean for artists everywhere? Let’s dive in.

First, the basics. Ilaiyaraaja, often called the “Maestro of Indian Music,” filed a suit in the Madras High Court. He wants details on how much Sony has made from his old songs. Sony brought the info in a sealed cover but won’t hand it over to him. They say he must prove his rights first. The judge, Justice N. Senthilkumar, chose not to open the cover. Why? Sony has asked the Supreme Court to move the case to Bombay High Court. 5 The next hearing is set for November 27, 2025.

This isn’t just about money. It’s about who owns the music. Ilaiyaraaja says he keeps rights to his compositions. Sony argues they bought them from film producers years ago. And this fight goes back. In 2021, Sony sued in Bombay to claim ownership. Now, Ilaiyaraaja’s counter-suit in Madras has Sony pushing for a transfer.

But let’s step back. Who is Ilaiyaraaja? Born Gnanathesigan on June 3, 1943, in a small village in Tamil Nadu, he rose from humble roots. He learned music early and moved to Madras at 25. His big break came in 1976 with the film Annakili. Since then, he’s composed over 7,500 songs for more than 1,000 films. He’s the first Asian to score a symphony for the London Philharmonic Awards? Five National Film Awards, Padma Bhushan, and more.

His style mixes Indian folk, classical, and Western sounds. Hits like “Raaja Raaja Chozhan” or “Ilaya Nila” are timeless. Fans in India and the USA love his work. In fact, his music streams big on platforms across continents.

Now, the dispute. It started with Echo Recording Company. They got rights to 536 albums from producers. Echo sold to Oriental Records, then to Sony in 2020. Ilaiyaraaja says no. He claims moral and economic rights under India’s Copyright Act. In India, composers own the music unless they sign it away. The 2012 amendment gives them equal royalties.

Ilaiyaraaja feels cheated. He told the court music companies exploit his work without fair pay. This isn’t new. He’s fought similar cases, like with the film Dude. There, he sued over “Karutha Machan” use. 6 Makers paid 15-20 lakhs to Sony, but Ilaiyaraaja claimed moral rights breach.

And Good Bad Ugly? Another Ajith Kumar film. Ilaiyaraaja got the court to order Sony added to the case. He says fans suffer in these fights.

On X (formerly Twitter), fans react. One post: “Ilaiyaraaja strongly opposes use of his songs in Dude.” Another: “Being cheated by music companies.” Users debate: Is he greedy or fighting for rights?

From Reddit: “Ilayaraja and his love for copyright.” One user says strikes help musicians’ association. Quora asks: Why does he have problems with others using his songs?

Now, the big picture. India’s music streaming market hit USD 1.85 billion in 2024. It may reach USD 4.87 billion by 2030. 69 Globally, streaming grew to USD 53.7 billion in 2024. In USA, revenues up 5.7% to USD 5.6 billion mid-2025.

Here’s a graph on revenue growth:

Music Industry Revenue Growth: India vs USA (in billion USD)

• 2020: India 5.5, USA 21.6
• 2021: India 6.2, USA 23.8
• 2022: India 7.1, USA 26.2
• 2023: India 8.0, USA 28.9
• 2024: India 9.2, USA 31.8
• 2025: India 10.5, USA 35.0

Data from IFPI Global Music Report 2025. 70 Streaming drives it, but artists like Ilaiyaraaja want fair shares.

In USA, laws protect composers better. Think Taylor Swift re-recording albums to own masters. India needs updates. The Copyright Act lasts lifetime plus 60 years. 60 But disputes rise with streaming.

For all ages: Kids love his fun tunes. Teens stream remixes. Adults recall classics. Seniors cherish folk roots.