Who Really Owns 38,000 Songs? The Mystery of a Beloved Singer's Legacy

Zubeen Garg was a legendary singer and composer from Assam, India, who performed in more than 40 languages and dialects. His sudden death left millions of fans heartbroken, especially those who cherished his vast musical legacy. One of his most devoted fans, Vishal Kalita, has spent over a decade collecting music cassettes, CDs, and posters, turning his home in Guwahati into a private museum. Vishal's collection is especially famous for its 38,000 songs by Zubeen Garg, including rare tracks that are not available anywhere else. Just days before his passing, Zubeen Garg visited Vishal's home and was reminded of some of his forgotten works.

After Zubeen's death, Vishal and other fans formed a network to make his music more accessible online and to ensure that his family receives royalties. However, they face a major challenge: many of Zubeen's songs cannot be uploaded to streaming platforms due to unclear ownership. The rights to these songs are scattered among producers, distributors, and music labels, making it difficult to determine who can legally share the music. This issue is not unique to India; musicians worldwide struggle with music ownership. For example, Taylor Swift had to re-record her albums to regain control, and many artists have started their own labels to protect their work.

In India, the Copyright Act of 1957 governs music ownership, with separate rights for lyrics, composition, and sound recording. The lyricist and composer are considered the first owners of their work, but the producer is the first owner of the sound recording. Ownership can be transferred or licensed to others, creating a complex web that is hard to trace without proper documentation. Zubeen Garg's career spanned 33 years, and while some songs are owned by his label, many from earlier decades belong to producers and distributors. The rise of private radio and online streaming has made music ownership more valuable, but also more complicated. Many of Zubeen's songs have uncertain ownership and are often removed from online platforms due to licensing issues. Efforts are underway to register more of his songs with the Indian Performing Right Society, which ensures creators and their families are paid when their work is used commercially. Vishal Kalita is also working to digitize rare tapes using advanced technology, hoping to preserve Zubeen Garg's musical legacy for future generations.