Sonu Nigam recalls being banned by T-Series, Zee Music over copyright issue

Sonu Nigam said that T-Series and Zee Music stopped working with him after he raised copyright and royalty issues. He said the industry has since become more open to singers' royalties and his ties with the labels have warmed.

In Short

• Sonu Nigam faced bans from T-Series and Zee Music over royalty activism
• He never expected such professional fallout from raising copyright issues
• Industry now pays royalties and has reconciled with him

Singer Sonu Nigam has opened up about the professional fallout he faced after speaking out on copyright and royalty rights for singers, claiming that major music labels, including T-Series and Zee Music, stopped working with him. Looking back, the singer said the industry has since evolved, with the same companies now paying royalties and rebuilding ties with him.

Speaking on the Game Changers podcast, Sonu reflected on the highs and lows of his career, describing it as a journey shaped by time and circumstance.

"My time came, then it passed, and now it has come back again. It's all a matter of time. When I was at my peak, people gave me so much love. I was releasing albums, people were going crazy for them, and even my posters used to sell. Then I raised the copyright issue. T-Series banned me. Zee Music also stopped working with me. They said, 'He's become an activist,'" he said.

Sonu admitted he never expected his stand to have such far-reaching consequences.

"I never thought I would be banned. I believed we would eventually resolve the issue, but things only kept getting worse. When I saw doors closing for me, I realised that while they could stop giving me songs, they could never stop me from performing on stage," he said.

The singer added that the industry's approach has changed significantly over the years.

"Today, things have changed. Those very music labels are paying royalties to singers. We now meet with affection, sit together and even share meals. Someone had to bell the cat," he said.

Sonu also described the copyright movement as a larger calling, saying he believed he was carrying forward a fight that legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar had initiated but could not complete.

He said he was prepared to put his career at risk to pursue the issue because he felt someone had to take a stand. According to Sonu, once the legal framework changed, music companies realised his demands had never been unreasonable, paving the way for a renewed relationship with the industry.

The singer is now gearing up for his upcoming concert, Revolution, at OVO Arena Wembley on August 23. He will then embark on the Revolution India Tour 2026, which begins in October and will travel to Bengaluru, Pune, Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Nagpur, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Jodhpur before concluding in March 2027.

- Ends