Following an uproar over livestream tariffs announced earlier this month by the Indian Performing Right Society, the copyright union has withdrawn its order, and will revise the tariffs, IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam confirmed to MediaNama in an interview (below). The tariffs, which would have charged performers Rs 20,000 for performing music by IPRS members, will now be revised to no longer require licenses for free performances. As for ticketed or sponsored livestreams, IPRS is holding consultations with industry bodies to finalise a rationalised tariff, Nigam added. UPDATE (July 25): IPRS has issued a press release announcing what Nigam told us, and added that free performances online will not be charged as long as the COVID-19 crisis continues. The collective added that devotional, classical and folk music concerts will not need a license either. An edited version of our conversation with Nigam. MediaNama: Do artists or organisers livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube (Google), which have signed licensing agreements with IPRS, have to pay this fee, or do the agreements signed with these platforms cover such performances? Rakesh Nigam: Anything which is free on YouTube or Facebook is covered. That is why we clarified. But anything that is paid, where the audience pays, is excluded from the deal. MediaNama: When the document had come out, it said free performences were covered as well, with a rate of Rs 20,000. Rakesh Nigam: The tariff has been withdrawn, because we are coming out with a revised tariff. We had discussions with the Event and Entertainment…
