‘My time came, then it passed, now it has come back again’: Sonu Nigam on being ‘banned’ by big music labels

New Delhi: Singer Sonu Nigam faced one of the most challenging phases of his career when the major music labels like T-Series and Zee Music stopped working with him. The major setback came after he spoke out for singers’ copyright and royalty rights.

During a conversation with Komal Nahta on the Game Changers podcast, Sonu reflected on how his flourishing career took an unexpected turn after this chapter of his life and how it eventually paved the way for industry-wide changes that benefit artists today.

“My time came, then it passed, and now it has come back again,” he said, recalling the period when his albums topped the charts and his popularity was at its peak.

The singer then claimed that the fallout began after he took a public stand on copyright issues.

“T-Series banned me. Zee Music also stopped working with me. They said, ‘He’s become an activist’,” Sonu revealed.

He admitted, “I believed we would eventually resolve the issue, but things only kept getting worse,” he said. As work opportunities reduced, Sonu realised that while music companies could stop offering him songs, “they could never stop me from performing on stage.”

According to the singer, time eventually changed the equation. He pointed out that music labels now pay royalties to singers and that his relationship with the companies has since improved.

“We now meet with affection, sit together and even share meals. Someone had to bell the cat,” he added.

Sonu also described the copyright movement as a responsibility he felt destined to take forward. He said he believed God had entrusted him with continuing the fight that legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar had begun but could not complete. Even if it meant risking his own career, he felt it was a battle worth fighting.

The singer further said that once the legal framework evolved, music companies recognised that his demands had never been unreasonable, leading to a healthier relationship between artists and labels.

Sonu Nigam is now preparing for his upcoming concert, Revolution, at OVO Arena Wembley on August 23, 2026. He will also kick off his Revolution India Tour 2026 in October, with performances scheduled across Bengaluru, Pune, Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Nagpur, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Jodhpur before concluding in March 2027.