Padma Bhushan Javed Akhtar, Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio, along with other officials in Kohima on March 20.
Kohima, March 20 (MExN): Padma Bhushan Javed Akhtar, chairman of Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), along with veteran actor Shabana Azmi, arrived in Nagaland on Friday to attend a creators’ meet and interaction scheduled for 4:30 PM at RCEMPA, Jotsoma.
The event is organised by Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFM) in association with IPRS and Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN).
Akhtar, accompanied by IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam, is visiting the state to strengthen music rights awareness and licensing frameworks in Nagaland.
Upon arrival, the delegation met Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio, along with officials from TaFMA and other stakeholders.
The collaboration with the Government of Nagaland is being seen as a first-of-its-kind state-led initiative to promote awareness on music copyright, royalties and licensing at the grassroots level, positioning the state as a potential model for others.
As part of the initiative, IPRS will establish a dedicated IP Hub in Kohima in association with the Task Force for Music and Arts. The hub will serve as a permanent support centre for artists and creators, helping them understand copyright, manage rights and metadata, and access IPRS services.
It will also guide creators on membership, work registration and royalty processes, while assisting venues, organisers and businesses in complying with licensing norms for ethical and legal use of music.
Nagaland, known for its vibrant and diverse music culture, has a large pool of tribal, regional and independent artists. However, many creators remain outside formal intellectual property systems and often do not receive due royalties for use of their work across platforms and events.
To address this gap, IPRS will also host a “My Music My Rights” workshop at the Regional Centre of Excellence for Music and Performing Arts in Kohima, bringing together artists, composers and industry professionals to build awareness on music rights and the business of music.
Akhtar said the initiative aims to ensure creators receive due recognition and remuneration, adding that government support reflects the importance of protecting creator rights as a cultural priority.
Nigam said the partnership marks a significant step towards building scalable systems to empower creators and strengthen the music ecosystem in Nagaland and beyond.
