Sonu Nigam says he was ‘banned’ by T-Series, Zee Music after copyright battle: ‘Things only kept getting worse’

Singer Sonu Nigam has reflected on the highs and lows of his career, including the period when he was sidelined by major music labels after raising concerns over singers’ copyright and royalty rights. The singer recalled how his career was at its peak before the controversy led to several doors closing, but said the situation has now changed, with the same music companies returning to work with him and the industry becoming more receptive to artists’ rights.

He added, “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. 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.”

Sonu said he believed his stand on copyright was part of a larger purpose in his life. He said he felt God had given him the responsibility to continue what Lata Mangeshkar had started but could not complete. Sonu recalled being willing to put his career on the line to take up the fight, saying that he believed no one else would have had the courage to do so.

He added that after the laws changed, music companies eventually realised that his demands had never been unreasonable. According to Sonu, the change in the industry’s approach led the music companies to return to him, and he now shares a warm relationship with them.