Music licence relief for weddings may cut costs for Mumbai venues, govt pushes single-window system

MUMBAI: Wedding celebrations and banquet events in Mumbai and Maharashtra could become less complicated and potentially less expensive after the Centre clarified that no music licensing charges would apply to marriage-related functions and initiated steps towards a single-window music copyright licensing system.The development emerged from a stakeholder meeting convened by Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal at Vanijya Bhavan in New Delhi on May 14 to discuss simplification of music licensing and ease of doing business. Officials from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), music industry representatives and hospitality bodies, including the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR), attended the discussions.AHAR, which represents hotels and restaurants including banquet and event venues, said the clarification would provide long-awaited relief to the hospitality sector, particularly for establishments hosting weddings and social gatherings. The association said operators had often faced confusion over multiple licensing demands and varying tariff structures.According to AHAR, the minister clarified that marriage functions and events directly related to weddings would not attract music licensing fees. The industry body said this would reduce a financial and procedural burden on hotels, marriage halls and event organisers, especially during peak wedding seasons in Maharashtra where music forms an integral part of celebrations.The Centre also discussed a proposed single-window music licensing framework, tentatively referred to as "Sangeet Dwaar", aimed at replacing multiple permissions with a streamlined mechanism. AHAR president Vijay K Shetty led the association's delegation and urged the government to simplify the system.A key concern raised at the meeting involved royalty collections by private licensing entities such as PPL and Novex. AHAR said the ministry clarified that marriage-related events are exempt from such fees and that only government-registered copyright bodies, including RMPL and IPRS, may collect music licence charges in applicable cases, subject to tariff rationalisation currently under discussion.For Mumbai's hospitality industry, which hosts thousands of weddings, receptions and corporate events annually, the move could have practical implications. Venue operators have frequently complained about overlapping copyright demands, lack of clarity and unpredictable pricing, issues they say increase compliance costs and complicate event planning.The minister reportedly directed music companies to rationalise tariffs within a week, although industry representatives sought a month to work out a standardised and government-approved pricing structure to replace what AHAR described as arbitrary rates.Music licensing has remained a contentious issue nationally for years, with hotels, restaurants and event organisers arguing that fragmented licensing mechanisms create confusion while copyright holders and music companies maintain that creators must receive fair compensation for commercial use of music. The DPIIT is expected to hold another round of consultations with music companies within a month as the government works towards a more uniform framework.If implemented effectively, industry stakeholders say the single-window system could reduce paperwork, lower disputes and make it easier for hospitality businesses across Maharashtra to comply with copyright rules while continuing to host music-driven social events.