Recently, a Telugu hero revealed that a chartbuster song from one of his decade-old movies has fetched him crores of rupees so far in revenue. His disclosure validates the stamina of chartbusters composed by the likes of Devi Sri Prasad, Anirudh Ravichander, Thaman and MM Keeravani.
Movie songs in India generate revenue through various channels, including music streaming platforms (read Spotify, YouTube, JioSaavn), music rights sales, live performances, and royalties. According to industry estimates, the revenue from a single hit song can range significantly depending on its popularity and the film's reach. For instance, the song Namo Namo from Kedarnath (Hindi) reportedly generated over Rs 20 crore (as reported by Pinkvilla), making it one of the most profitable songs in the Hindi film industry in the last decade.
"A chart-topping song from a successful Bollywood film can generate anywhere from Rs 5 crore to Rs 20 crore or more. This includes streaming revenue, music label deals, and royalties. Platforms like YouTube and Spotify contribute significantly, with hit songs like Kesariya or Srivalli reaching millions of streams," various reports on the commercial worth of Indian film music say.
Renowned Bollywood music directors like AR Rahman, Pritam, or Anirudh Ravichander can significantly boost a song’s commercial prospects due to their established reputation for creating chartbusters. A report stated that Pritam, known for blockbuster albums like Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Brahmāstra, earned over Rs 95 crore in 2019.
