There was a time when Arijit Singh was just another aspiring singer trying to make a mark in the industry. Music director Monty Sharma recalls how the now-superstar singer would spend long hours in his office, quietly watching and learning, sometimes without even taking a break to eat. However, today, Arijit Singh is one of the most loved voices in Bollywood and charges a whopping amount of Rs 2 crore per live performance.
In a recent interview with Lallantop, veteran composer Monty Sharma opened up about how drastically the economics of the Hindi music industry have changed over the years, from modest song budgets to today’s multi-crore deals.
From Rs 2 lakh songs to crore-club performances
“Everything has evolved over a period of time,” Monty said. “Earlier, we used to make a complete song in Rs 2 lakh. This included an entire orchestra, about 40 violins and many other instruments. Later, when I had made a name for myself, I charged around Rs 35,000 per song, regardless of how much was being spent on the production,” he further said.
Monty pointed out that today, the worth of an artist is largely decided by their brand value. He used Arijit Singh as the perfect example. “There was a time when Arijit used to sit next to me for hours without taking a break or eating food. Today, he charges Rs 2 crore for a performance. That’s the power of brand value,” he added.
Social media changed the game
Monty explained that one of the biggest reasons for this huge leap in money is the digital revolution. “Earlier, people listened to songs only through radio and television. Audio rights were sold for crores back then too, but the exposure was limited. Today, with so many social media platforms, the exposure is massive and so is the revenue,” he said.
However, he admitted that while composers and singers earn well, the real winners are the audio companies. “A composer may charge Rs 20 lakh for a song, but he is giving away 90 per cent of the song rights to the audio company. These companies are making mad money from Spotify, YouTube, and many other platforms. Just imagine the kind of revenue they generate,” Monty added.
Singers earn the most
According to Monty, despite the massive boom in the music industry, composers often find their earnings limited compared to singers. “Because singers are the face and voice of the song, they end up earning the most. Many of the new singers charge between Rs 1 to Rs 2 crore for their work,” he revealed.
Reality shows: A big money maker
Monty also shared how reality shows have created a new source of steady income for artists. Recalling his own experience, he said, “Back in my days, when I was part of Voice of India, I used to charge Rs 7.5 lakh per day. Now, there is no cap, reality shows make huge money for mentors and bring a lot of income to singers.”
Not everyone strikes gold
But Monty admitted that the glamorous numbers don’t reflect the reality for many in the industry. “Not everyone gets this kind of exposure. Many talented people are still struggling. Often their work is misunderstood or underappreciated. Producers sometimes don’t even understand their effort,” he said.
From Arijit Singh’s Rs 2 crore stage fee to the booming revenue of audio companies, Monty Sharma’s revelations show how the business of music has transformed in India. But behind the crores and the fame, many artists continue to fight for recognition in an industry that rewards only a few.