The Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) and the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), Nagaland, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 4 in Kohima, marking a significant step towards strengthening music rights and promoting local talent in the region.
The MoU was exchanged during an IPRS Workshop in the presence of Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland.
The collaboration aims to support and promote musical talent in Nagaland, while also creating sustainable revenue streams for music creators and publishers through licensing and royalties. The partnership will focus on building a robust framework for copyright awareness, royalty collection, and artist promotion in the state.
Under the agreement, IPRS will partner with TaFMA in cultural initiatives and conferences, including playing a key role in the renowned Hornbill Music Festival. The partnership will explore innovative ways to involve music creators and promoters from the region, aiming to enhance the overall festival experience and spotlight local musicians.
IPRS and TaFMA will work together to: Establish licensing and royalty collection infrastructure in Nagaland, raise awareness of creators’ rights and the importance of copyright societies, increase IPRS’s presence in the region and encourage local artist enrollment, provide platforms for emerging artists through showcases, competitions, and digital promotion, additionally, TaFMA will ensure the inclusion of IPRS branding across its promotional materials, including social media, event signage, and advertisements.
The MoU also stipulates that TaFMA will obtain or facilitate IPRS licenses for commercial events utilizing musical works, whether performed live or through recordings.
IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam and TaFMA Project Director Dr. Hovithal Sothu formally signed the agreement, signaling a new era of collaboration to empower the music ecosystem in Nagaland and the Northeast region.