How Independent Music Publishers Like Kobalt Can Help Video Creators License South Asian Music

Hook: Stop guessing — license South Asian music the right way

Finding the perfect regional track for a YouTube short or Instagram Reel is easier than ever — but legally using it is still a minefield. If you’re a video creator frustrated by vague takedowns, revenue claims, or confusing rights lingo, this guide shows how independent publisher Kobalt — through its 2026 partnership with India’s Madverse — opens practical, legal access to South Asian catalogs and how to clear tracks for short-form and long-form video.

Top-line: What the Kobalt–Madverse deal means for creators (2026)

In January 2026 Kobalt announced a global publishing partnership with Madverse Music Group to administer publishing for Madverse’s community of South Asian songwriters, composers and producers. For creators, that translates into three immediate benefits:

• Broader access to independent South Asian catalogs now administrated with international royalty collection and metadata management.
• Cleaner licensing paths — publishers administered by Kobalt can offer clearer sync licensing workflows and faster royalty collection worldwide.
• Better metadata and PRO reporting, reducing misallocated or unpaid royalties for global uses like YouTube, Shorts, and Reels.

Why this matters in 2026

Short-form content monetization and music discovery exploded in late 2024–2025. Platforms adjusted licensing to favor short-form but left creators responsible for sync compliance in many commercial or monetized uses. Kobalt’s admin network plus Madverse’s South Asian roster helps streamline sync rights, royalty collection, and international performance registrations — reducing the common pain points creators face when using regional music.

Quick primer: Which rights you actually need

Before the how-to, get the rights map. Video creators licensing recorded music generally need two distinct clearances:

• Sync license — permission from the music publisher/rightsholder to synchronize the composition (melody+lyrics) with visual content.
• Master use license — permission from the record label or distributor who controls the specific recorded performance (the sound recording).

Additionally, creators should be aware of related royalties and registrations:

• Performance royalties — collected by PROs for public performances (YouTube streaming can generate performance royalties in some territories).
• Mechanical royalties — reproduction rights for the composition; these are relevant for downloads and some platform reproductions.
• Neighboring rights — performer and producer royalties in some countries.

Step-by-step: How to legally license South Asian tracks via Kobalt–Madverse (practical workflow)

Below is a practical, step-by-step workflow tailored to YouTube videos, Shorts, Instagram Reels, and similar platforms. Use this as a checklist.

1. Identify the track and rights holders

• Search Kobalt’s catalog and Madverse roster: With the deal, many Madverse-administered compositions are now visible through Kobalt’s publishing channels or partner portals. If a track is listed under Kobalt (publisher admin), you have a single gateway to request sync terms.
• Confirm both composition and master owner. Sometimes the composer/publisher (Madverse/Kobalt) and record label/distributor are different entities.

2. Determine use case and monetization

• Is the video monetized? Branded content? A promotional asset? Non-commercial? Platforms treat each differently; sync fees and licensing terms depend heavily on purpose and distribution channels (global vs specific territories).
• For YouTube Shorts used in monetized channels, insist on a formal sync agreement — blanket platform deals do not always cover creator monetization.

3. Contact the publisher admin (Kobalt) via the publisher portal

Because Kobalt administers Madverse catalogs worldwide, your first point of contact for composition clearance should often be Kobalt’s publishing administration team. Provide a concise sync request that includes:

• Exact track title, composer credits, and ISWC/ISRC if available
• Link to your video / platform, expected territories
• Usage term (perpetual vs limited), exclusivity, and commercial intent
• Expected views and distribution channels (YouTube Shorts, Instagram, TikTok, paid ads)

4. Secure the master license from the label/distributor

Once Kobalt confirms the sync is possible and supplies a publisher quote, you’ll likely need a separate agreement for the recorded performance. If Madverse artists self-release, Madverse may control the master or route you to the distributor. If not, contact the label or the record’s distributor (often listed in the metadata).

5. Negotiate terms — fees, splits, and reporting

• Sync fee: One-time payment for using the composition; amounts vary by territory, notoriety, length used, and use-case.
• Revenue split or backend: For some independent catalogs Kobalt administers, publishers may accept a reduced upfront sync fee in exchange for a share of platform revenue. Get this in writing.
• Metadata and reporting: Require accurate metadata (writer splits, ISWC, ISRC) and regular reporting. Kobalt’s admin tools often make this smoother.

6. Get the paperwork right — signed licenses and invoices

Signed, dated agreements should spell out territories, term, fees, credit language, and what happens on takedown or disputes. Keep invoices and proof of payment organized — you will need them if platforms flag content or for tax/royalty reconciliation.

7. Register the use with PROs and provide cue sheets

For performance royalties to flow, the usage must be registered with the relevant PROs. In South Asia, that means working with local entities (for example, India’s IPRS and other regional societies). Kobalt will typically submit administrator reports to PROs and collect internationally, but confirm the reporting cadence and any information you must supply (cue sheets, timestamps, credits).

8. Protect privacy and consent in your recorded content

When using music in video, consider consent and privacy alongside licensing:

• Model/Location releases: If your video includes identifiable people or private property, ensure releases are signed. Music licensing doesn’t override personal privacy rights.
• Interviews and background music: If music is used in interview backgrounds or ambient recordings, get both sync clearance and releases from participants where needed — especially for commercial uses.
• Children and sensitive content: Obtain guardian consent and be transparent about monetization and distribution territories.

Case study: A creator licenses a Bengali indie track for a monetized YouTube Short (example)

Scenario: A food vlogger in London finds a 20-second hook from a Madverse artist. They want to use it on a monetized YouTube Short and repurpose the clip for Instagram Reels.

1. Search: The creator finds the composition listed under Kobalt’s admin in the catalog, with Madverse credited.
2. Request: They submit a sync request via Kobalt with usage details, territories (global), and monetization status.
3. Quote: Kobalt returns a sync fee and confirms Madverse controls the master; Madverse’s distributor confirms a separate master-use fee.
4. Agreement: Creator signs publisher and master agreements, pays fees, and receives license documents allowing global monetized use for one year with renewal options.
5. Reporting: The creator provides timestamps and a cue sheet; Kobalt reports uses to PROs and ensures international royalty collection if streams generate performance revenues.

Result: No takedowns, no unexpected claims, and performance royalties flow to writers through Kobalt and Madverse’s reporting.

Special considerations for short-form platforms (Shorts, Reels, TikTok)

Short-form platforms have negotiated many blanket deals with major rights holders, but gaps remain, especially for independent South Asian catalogs. Key points:

• Blanket vs direct sync: A platform license may allow user-generated uses but often excludes monetized or commercial uses; always confirm.
• Length & excerpt use: Using a short clip doesn’t eliminate the need for a license. Publishers may tier fees by excerpt length and prominence.
• Creator tools and music stickers: Using a platform’s music library may be simpler, but South Asian independent tracks might not be available there. Direct sync via Kobalt/Madverse is the reliable route for unique region-specific music.

Royalties & collection: How Kobalt helps

Kobalt’s strength is in publishing administration and international royalty collection. For creators and rights-holders that route through Kobalt:

• Centralized metadata reduces lost royalties from mis-credited uses.
• Worldwide collections mean PRO collections in India and neighboring territories are reconciled with global digital platform receipts.
• Transparent reporting gives creators and rights-holders clearer statements that help reconcile platform revenue shares and sync payments.

2026 trends to watch (and act on now)

Here are developments through late 2025 and early 2026 that affect licensing South Asian music:

• Short-form monetization tightens: Platforms are adding stricter rules for monetized uses; expect more direct sync requirements.
• AI-created music & sampling rules: Generative AI is mainstream. If you use AI models trained on South Asian music or create derivative works, confirm the dataset licensing and get explicit permissions; publishers like Kobalt will demand clarity on dataset provenance and rights attribution.
• Growing independent catalogs: More South Asian independents are seeking global admin — the Madverse pipeline to Kobalt accelerates discoverability.
• Frictionless micro-licensing: Expect more fixed-price micro-licenses tailored to creators for short-form use — a trend publishers are piloting in 2026.

Checklist: Legal and privacy items before publishing

• Do you have a signed sync license for the composition? (Yes/No)
• Do you have a signed master use license for the recording? (Yes/No)
• Have you confirmed territory and term for all platforms you’ll publish on? (Yes/No)
• Are participants (on-camera people, property owners) covered by releases? (Yes/No)
• Is metadata (ISWC/ISRC, writer splits) included in video description or internal records? (Yes/No)
• Have you asked Kobalt/Madverse about reporting cadence and cue sheet requirements? (Yes/No)

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Assuming platform licenses cover monetized content: Don’t. Get written confirmation or a direct sync license.
• Using metadata-poor copies: Low-quality metadata leads to lost royalties. Use licenses that include accurate ISRC/ISWC and writer credits.
• Skipping the master license: Even if you clear the composition, you can be blocked by the record owner.
• Ignoring moral rights and local laws: In some South Asian jurisdictions, authors retain moral rights requiring attribution and sometimes consent for derogatory treatment — check with the publisher.

"The Kobalt–Madverse partnership creates a more direct path for worldwide clearance and royalty collection of South Asian independent works, a crucial change for global creators seeking authentic regional sound."

When to bring in counsel or a rights specialist

If your campaign includes high reach, brand partners, or complex territory splits, bring in a music rights lawyer or a clearance specialist. Complex issues that warrant expert help include sampling of legacy recordings, multi-territory exclusivity, or AI-derivative music claims.

Final practical tips — these save time and money

• Start clearance early — sync and master negotiations can take weeks.
• Use written emails rather than DMs for permission paths; they create evidence trails.
• Ask for split sheets and full credits up front to avoid later disputes.
• Negotiate for digital reporting (CSV cue sheets, timestamps) to reduce admin friction with PROs.
• For recurring use (series of shorts), seek a multi-video or blanket license to lower cumulative fees.

Closing: Use South Asian music confidently — with Kobalt and Madverse

Thanks to Kobalt’s 2026 partnership with Madverse, creators now have a clearer administrative and legal pathway to license South Asian independent music. The technical mechanics — sync plus master licenses, metadata, PRO reporting and privacy releases — remain the same, but this partnership reduces friction in global royalty collection and publisher administration. For creators building a distinct regional sound in their Shorts, Reels, and YouTube uploads, that friction reduction matters.

If you want to license a South Asian track today: identify the track, contact Kobalt’s publishing admin (or Madverse if they control the master), specify commercial intent, and secure both sync and master licenses before publishing. Keep releases and metadata organized, and report uses so royalties follow the work.

Call to action

Ready to license South Asian music for your next video? Start by compiling the track details and usage plan, then reach out to the publisher admin — and if you need help, contact a music clearance specialist. Want a printable checklist or an email template to request a sync from Kobalt/Madverse? Download our clearance checklist or book a free consult with a rights advisor to get started.

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