--- title: "Tribal Kerala artistes gain pathways to royalties and rights" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/kerala-tribal-musicians-royalties-pathway-kblqe publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Society published: 2026-08-15T14:32:27.393Z modified: 2026-08-15T17:00:05.858Z language: en-IN --- # Tribal Kerala artistes gain pathways to royalties and rights A residential Camp in Kolkata connected Kerala’s tribal musicians with training on copyright, royalties and professional songwriting, with eight Wayanad artistes among 25 participants from five states; organizers say all will be enrolled for free at IPRS and will gain authorship rights for their cre ## Key takeaways - Kerala tribal musicians attended a five-day residential program in Kolkata focused on professional songwriting and music production. - The program highlighted copyright and royalty concepts, including how revenue from platforms like YouTube is shared. - Eight artistes from Wayanad and four artistes from each of the Paniya and Kattunaika communities participated, totaling 25 artistes from eight communities across five states. - IPRS will enroll all attending musicians for free, granting authorship rights for the songs created during the camp. - The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve livelihoods and recognition for indigenous and folk artists. ## What Happened Musicians from Kerala’s tribal communities are increasingly gaining access to formal mechanisms that acknowledge and compensate their creative work. A five-day residential program in Kolkata, organized as part of the national songwriting and music production initiative Living Roots Originals, brought together eight artistes from Wayanad and four each from the Paniya and Kattunaika communities. The event was run by the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) with support from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The participants collaborated on original songs rooted in their traditions, languages, and instruments under the supervision of senior musicians. Beyond the creative sessions, the program emphasized practical aspects of the professional music world, particularly copyright and royalty issues. Attendees were educated about how monetisation works on platforms like YouTube and how revenue is divided among lyricists, composers, singers, and producers. A key outcome highlighted by organisers is that all attending musicians will be enrolled for free at IPRS, enabling them to secure authorship and rights for the songs they created during the camp. Several participants and organisers stressed that such exposure is part of a broader effort to address historical financial exploitation and limited recognition faced by indigenous and folk musicians when interacting with commercial music channels. ## Why It Matters The initiative signals a shift toward greater professional inclusion for tribal musicians from Kerala, with a focus on protecting intellectual property and ensuring fair compensation. By clarifying copyright knowledge and monetisation pathways, participants may access ongoing income streams from their creations and maintain control over how their work is used. Advocates say this kind of education is essential to sustain traditional arts and preserve linguistic and musical heritage within contemporary forms. ## Background Kerala’s tribal and folk artists have historically faced barriers to recognition and earnings in mainstream music. Reports from NGOs working in this field indicate a pattern of underpayment and exploitation, alongside limited awareness of legal rights related to copyright and royalties. The present program is framed as a continuation of prior efforts, including a fellowship initiative and preliminary training focused on professional songwriting, composing, and recording. As part of the program, participants demonstrated a collaborative, practice-based approach to creating new works inspired by their traditional roots, with guidance from senior musicians to ensure quality and alignment with professional music production standards. ## Key Facts - Eight artistes from the Wayanad region participated from Kerala. - Four artistes each from the Paniya and Kattunaika communities participated. - The five-day residential camp occurred in Kolkata, West Bengal. - Organisers: Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) with support from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs. - Twenty-five artistes from eight communities across five states attended the program. - Participants learned about copyright, royalties, and monetisation processes on platforms such as YouTube. - All attending artistes will be enrolled for free at IPRS and will receive authorship rights for their created songs. - The event served as a continuation of broader efforts to strengthen livelihood opportunities for marginalised communities through cultural heritage. ## What Happens Next The report notes that the IPRS enrollment will provide formal authorship and rights for the songs created during the camp, potentially enabling ongoing royalty streams. Organisers and participants indicated a continued emphasis on safeguarding legal rights and expanding access to professional music opportunities for tribal communities, though specific next steps beyond the camp were not detailed in the provided material. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/kerala-tribal-musicians-royalties-pathway-kblqe Reported from: Multiple Sources