"Singers Get Exploited": Abhijeet Sawant Slams Industry After Arijit Singh Quits Playback Singing!
The Indian music industry is facing a moment of reckoning.
Just days after global sensation Arijit Singh announced his retirement
from Bollywood playback singing, Abhijeet Sawant, the first-ever Indian
Idol winner, has come forward with a stinging critique of the business.
Sawant’s claims of exploitation and low pay have ignited a fierce debate about
the sustainability of a career in playback music.
Arijit Singh’s Shocking Exit: End of an Era?
On January 27, 2026, Arijit Singh sent shockwaves
through the industry by announcing he would no longer accept new playback
assignments. Singh, who was recently crowned the most followed artist on
Spotify globally, stated he wants to focus on independent music and Indian
classical music.
While Singh cited creative burnout and a desire for
autonomy, industry insiders suggest his departure highlights a deeper systemic
issue: even at the peak of fame, the "playback" system may no longer
be fulfilling for top-tier artists.
Abhijeet Sawant Speaks Out: "We Don't Even Get
Enough Money"
Reacting to the news, Abhijeet Sawant shared a candid
perspective on the financial reality of Indian singers. In a recent interview,
Sawant didn't hold back, describing a system where singers are often the last
to be compensated fairly.
1. The Lack of Royalty Payments
Sawant highlighted a major disparity between the Indian and
Western music industries: Royalties.
- The
Comparison: Sawant cited British-Indian composer Biddu, who
earns nearly ₹80 lakh a month in royalties from just two
international hits.
- The
Indian Reality: In contrast, Indian playback singers often receive a
one-time fee, with the labels and producers retaining all future earnings
from streaming and broadcasts.
2. The Fear of Being "Too Big"
According to Sawant, there is a deliberate effort to keep
singers from becoming bigger than the films they feature in. "People
don't want the singers to become bigger than the film itself," he
stated, suggesting that suppressed wages are a tool for control.
3. Exploitation Through "Opportunity"
Sawant noted that singers are often "greedy for
opportunities," accepting low or no pay in hopes that a hit song
picturized on a superstar will lead to lucrative live shows. This creates a
cycle where the art of playback singing itself is devalued.
"We accept whatever amount we get because if we don’t
do it, someone else will. We get exploited a lot." — Abhijeet Sawant
The Shift Toward Independent Music
The timing of Arijit Singh’s exit and Sawant’s critique
suggests a growing trend. Major artists are increasingly moving away from the
"work-for-hire" model of Bollywood to build their own independent
brands.
- Creative
Freedom: Artists like Arijit Singh and King are prioritizing their own
YouTube channels and independent labels.
- Financial
Control: Independent releases allow artists to own their masters and
collect 100% of streaming royalties.
- Direct
Connection: Social media has removed the need for a "film
star" to make a song a hit.
What This Means for the Future of Bollywood Music
If the industry's most bankable voice (Arijit) and its most
recognizable reality star (Sawant) are both signaling a "broken
system," Bollywood may face a talent drain. Labels may soon be forced to
reconsider royalty-sharing agreements to retain top-tier vocalists.
No comments:
Post a Comment