How to License South Asian Tracks for Your Live Shows (Using Publisher Partnerships)

Hook: Stuck finding clean, legal South Asian tracks for your live show?

If you’re a creator expanding into South Asian markets or simply trying to diversify your live-stream soundtracks, the legal and logistical maze of cross-border rights can kill momentum—and viewers. Low retention and muted revenue often trace back to one avoidable cause: uncleared music. In 2026, publisher networks and regional partners make it possible for independent creators to legally license South Asian music at scale. This playbook shows you exactly how to do it.

The headline—and why it matters now

In January 2026, independent publisher Kobalt announced a strategic partnership with India’s Madverse Music Group expanding publishing reach for South Asian independent songwriters and composers.

“Independent music publisher Kobalt has formed a worldwide partnership with Madverse Music Group, an India-based company serving the South Asian independent music sector.” — Variety, Jan 2026

Why this matters: publisher partnerships like Kobalt + Madverse simplify cross-border publishing administration and royalty collection. For creators, that means faster clearances, better metadata, and global royalty tracking—critical for live creators who rely on consistent monetization and platform safety.

Quick overview: Rights you must understand (and clear) for live streams

Before the step-by-step playbook, get clear on the rights landscape. For South Asian tracks you want to use in a live show, at minimum you’ll need to map:

• Composition (Publishing) Rights: Owned/controlled by songwriters and their publishers. Administered by publishers and collected by Mechanical Rights Organizations and PROs.
• Master (Sound Recording) Rights: Owned by the label/artist who recorded the track. Needed for using a specific recorded performance.
• Synchronization (Sync) Rights: Required when pairing music with video (including live-streamed video). Sync is negotiated with the publisher and often a separate master-use license with the label.
• Public Performance Rights: Collected by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs). For India, key organizations include IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society) and PPL/Phonographic Performance Limited for recording rights; global collection relies on reciprocal agreements between PROs.
• Neighboring/Rights Clearance: Some territories have neighboring rights or digital service-specific rules—important for revenue split and payout routing.

2026 trends shaping South Asian licensing for creators

• Publisher consolidation and partnerships. Deals like Kobalt + Madverse are increasing catalog access for cross-border users and simplifying admin, so creators get faster responses and cleaner metadata.
• Localized catalogs matter more. Global audiences crave regional authenticity—South Asian indie catalogs are now a discovery moat for creators growing in APAC and diaspora audiences.
• Platform enforcement and automated claims grow stricter. Platforms tightened copyright policies in late 2024–2025; 2026 enforcement expects documented sync/master licenses for live streams to avoid strikes and demonetization.
• AI music and sample-safety frameworks. AI-created music is mainstream in 2026—publishers are building policies to distinguish rights. If you use AI reworkings of South Asian tracks, clear both original and derivative rights.

Practical playbook: Step-by-step to license South Asian indie tracks through publisher networks

Step 1 — Discovery: find the right track and verify publisher/ownership

Start with discovery tools and regional partners:

• Search Kobalt’s catalog and partner portals (after the Kobalt–Madverse rollout, Madverse catalogs surface via Kobalt’s admin tools).
• Explore Madverse’s regional catalogs for Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Sinhala, Nepali, and fusion genres.
• Use metadata to verify ISWC (composition) and ISRC (master). If absent, flag the track—missing identifiers slow clearance.

Step 2 — Map the rights you need

For a typical live stream use-case:

• If you use an existing recorded track as background music in a video stream: you need a sync license (from publisher) + master use license (from label/rights owner).
• If you perform a cover live on-stream: you may need a performance license via PROs; many platforms handle performance via blanket deals, but regional catalogs often fall outside blanket coverage—verify.
• If you loop or reproduce the track (download/redistribute), you’ll need mechanical/replication clearance.

Step 3 — Contact the publisher/admin (fast path via networks)

When a track is administered by a major like Kobalt, you get a faster route:

1. Use the publisher’s licensing portal (Kobalt has admin portals) or Madverse contact page to submit a licensing request.
2. Provide use-case details: territory (global or specified countries), platforms (YouTube, Twitch, Instagram Live, OBS multi-destination), duration, exclusivity, and planned monetization (ads, subscriptions, tips).
3. Attach technical info: timestamps where music appears, whether you’ll use full track or excerpt, and audience size/average watch time to justify fees.

Step 4 — Negotiate terms (what to ask for)

Key negotiation points to lock down in writing:

• Scope: platforms, territories, dates, and whether the license covers live replays/VOD.
• Rights granted: sync, master use, performance, mechanical—explicitly listed.
• Exclusivity: usually none for creators; insist on non-exclusive unless you plan branded partnerships.
• Fee structure: flat sync fee, revenue share, or reduced fee + credit. For independent artists via partner networks, expect negotiation flexibility.
• Metadata & credit: ISRC/ISWC inclusion, composer/performer credits, and link-back to artist pages.
• Royalty collection: confirm publisher/admin (e.g., Kobalt) will register usage and collect publishing royalties globally.
• Indemnity & takedowns: define how DMCA/notice issues are handled and who bears costs for improper claims.

Step 5 — Clear the master and registration

If the publisher grants sync but the master is owned elsewhere (a label, indie distributor), you must secure a master-use license. Use these tips:

• Ask publishers to point you to the master owner—Kobalt/Madverse partnerships often simplify introductions.
• Request the master permission in the same negotiation to speed turnaround.
• Confirm the label’s payment routing for master royalties (one-time fee vs. revenue share).

Step 6 — Metadata, cue sheets, and PRO registration

Good metadata accelerates royalty payment and reduces claims:

• Collect ISWC, ISRC, writer splits, publisher names, and PRO affiliations.
• Submit cue sheets after each live show; include exact timestamps and usage type (background music, featured performance).
• Register usage with platforms’ rights management systems (e.g., YouTube Content ID) only if contract allows; otherwise coordinate with publisher.

Step 7 — Confirm reporting and get proof

Before going live, get confirmation in writing that the license covers:

• Live stream date(s) and replay/VOD
• Platforms and territories
• Monetization methods covered
• Royalty collection mechanism and expected timing

Checklist: What to include in your license request

• Creator name and channel handles
• Track title, artist, ISRC/ISWC
• Planned use (live show, VOD replay, clip exports)
• Platforms and distribution list
• Start / end dates and territory list
• Expected audience size and monetization plan
• Sample clip (timestamped) showing the intended usage

How much will licensing cost? (Real-world ranges and negotiation tips)

Pricing varies by track popularity, rights owner, and territory. Use these 2026-informed ranges as a planning guide:

• Indie/Unestablished track: $0–$500 one-time sync for non-exclusive, small-audience use. Regional partners and publishers often give creator-friendly rates.
• Established independent artist: $500–$5,000 depending on platforms and replay rights.
• Label-owned hits or exclusive uses: $5,000+ or revenue share required.

Negotiation tips:

• Offer limited-term, non-exclusive licenses if budgets are small; publishers prefer repeat usage to one-off low-fee deals.
• Trade exposure: offer social credit, links, or a co-branded segment when using indie artists—publishers often accept promotion as partial compensation.
• Use publisher partners (Kobalt+Madverse) to request package deals for multiple tracks to reduce per-track fees.

Case study (practical example)

Creator: Livestream host with a U.S. audience (50k peak viewers). Goal: a 90-minute special featuring South Asian indie tracks during a cultural festival stream with VOD replay for 30 days.

1. Discovery: Found 6 tracks on Madverse catalog surfaced via Kobalt’s admin portal.
2. Rights map: Needed sync + master for all 6 tracks; full global VOD for 30 days.
3. Negotiation: Bundled request, offered one-time sync + promotion on show page. Kobalt facilitated contact with Madverse and the master owners.
4. Outcome: 4 indie tracks cleared at $600 each, 2 higher-profile tracks at $2,500 each with revenue share on ads. Contracts included metadata obligations and a clause for PRO reporting.
5. Result: No claims, smooth payout via Kobalt’s admin system, and an audience retention lift of 18% on music-heavy segments (measured by attentive.live analytics).

Regional notes: South Asia specifics you must know

• India: IPRS (publishing), PPL (master performance), and label/distributor agreements are common. International publishers often have admin deals with IPRS for local collection.
• Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal: Regional PRO coverage varies—work with publisher partners who have strong local relationships.
• Language & cultural rights: For folk samples or traditional melodies, confirm cultural clearance and any community consent requirements.

Metadata best practices (the small stuff that pays big dividends)

• Always collect and store ISWC, ISRC, composer splits, and publisher IDs.
• Ensure your stream descriptions include full credits and links required by the license.
• Keep a copy of the signed license in your channel admin files and reference it in takedown/dispute responses.
• Use consistent naming conventions for files (artist_track_ISRC_DATE) to streamline reporting.

Dealing with takedowns and claims

Even with licensing, automated systems sometimes flag content. Here’s the damage-control play:

1. Immediately surface the signed license and metadata to the platform’s dispute portal.
2. Ask the publisher to contact the platform’s rights team (publisher-admin networks like Kobalt usually have faster escalation paths).
3. If a claim persists, use contract language (indemnity clause) to force a coordinated resolution—don’t fight claims alone.

Advanced strategies for creators (scale & growth)

• Pre-clear a music bed library: Curate a 30–50 track library from Madverse/Kobalt that you’ve pre-cleared for recurring shows—saves time and reduces per-show costs.
• Use split licensing: Negotiate a low upfront fee + small revenue share for replays to align incentives with rights holders.
• Partner for co-branded events: Offer artist takeovers and tickets; artists get exposure, you get more favorable licensing terms.
• Leverage data for negotiation: Use viewer demographics and watch-time metrics to demonstrate value to publishers for better rates.

Legal note and risk management

Always get written agreements. Automated platform assertions don’t replace contractual licenses. When in doubt for high-value uses consult an entertainment attorney experienced in cross-border licensing. Publisher partnerships like Kobalt + Madverse reduce friction but do not remove the need for clear contracts.

Future predictions (2026–2028): what creators should plan for

• Faster clearance workflows: More publishers will offer creator-facing portals and tiered micro-licenses for live creators.
• Regional catalogs as growth drivers: Creators using authentic regional soundtracks will see higher engagement from diaspora audiences; platforms will reward local language content.
• AI & sample-tracing: Expect new tools that automatically map samples and derivative claims—publishers will require clearer provenance.
• Integrated royalty dashboards: Publisher admin partnerships will expose near-real-time royalty and claim data directly to creators and platforms.

Actionable takeaways — your 7-step checklist to start licensing today

1. Identify 3–10 South Asian tracks you want to use and capture ISRC/ISWC.
2. Search Kobalt and Madverse catalogs; note admin contacts.
3. Draft a single licensing request covering platforms, territories, and VOD needs.
4. Negotiate a sync + master bundle; push for non-exclusive and clear metadata clauses.
5. Get written licenses, store copies, and add credits to stream descriptions.
6. Submit cue sheets and register with PROs/platforms as required.
7. Measure audience impact and use data to negotiate future deals.

Final thoughts

Licensing South Asian independent music used to be slow and opaque. In 2026, publisher partnerships—most visibly Kobalt’s deal with Madverse—are changing that. For live creators, the result is faster clearances, better metadata, and a path to authentic, regional soundtracks that boost retention and revenue. Be methodical: map rights, get written licenses, and use publisher networks to scale.

Call to action

Ready to add South Asian indie music to your live shows without the legal guesswork? Start by building your 10-track shortlist and reach out to publisher partners—use this playbook as your contract checklist. If you want a done-for-you approach, connect with a rights coordinator who knows Kobalt–Madverse workflows and can handle clearances end-to-end. Want help sourcing a pre-cleared music bed? Contact us to get matched with regional catalogs and licensing experts.

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