How Much Singers Charge for a Song in India?
Dec, 23 2025
Singer Song Cost Estimator
Calculate realistic costs for recording a song in India based on singer experience, project type, and location. Based on industry data from the article "How Much Singers Charge for a Song in India?".
When you hear a hit song from a Bollywood movie or a viral indie track on Spotify, you might wonder: how much did that singer actually get paid? The answer isn’t simple. In India, what a singer charges for a song depends on who they are, where they’re recording, what kind of song it is, and whether they’re doing it for fame, cash, or both.
Playback Singers: The Big Names
The top playback singers in India-like Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, or Atif Aslam-don’t just sing. They’re brands. For a single song in a major Bollywood film, these artists can charge anywhere from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh ($6,000 to $30,000 USD). That’s not just for singing. It includes studio time, multiple takes, vocal tuning, and sometimes even travel and accommodation.
Arijit Singh reportedly earned over ₹1.5 crore for his work on the movie Ae Dil Hai Mushkil alone. That’s for three songs. He’s not an outlier. The industry has normalized these fees because his voice sells tickets. Labels know that putting his name on a track boosts streaming numbers by 30-40%.
Mid-Tier Singers: The Workhorses
Most singers aren’t Arijit Singh. They’re the ones you hear in regional films, indie albums, or ads. These artists typically charge between ₹50,000 and ₹3 lakh per song. Many of them work out of small studios in Mumbai, Hyderabad, or Chennai. Their rates depend on experience and how many songs they’re recording in one go.
If you’re a producer hiring a mid-tier singer for five songs in a single week, you might negotiate a package deal. For example, ₹1.2 lakh for all five songs instead of ₹30,000 each. That’s common. Singers prefer bulk work because studio time is expensive, and they don’t want to sit idle between sessions.
New Artists: Starting from Scratch
For newcomers-college students, YouTube creators, or local talent-the game is different. Many don’t charge at all. They record in home studios using free software like Audacity or GarageBand. Some might ask for ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 per song just to cover basic studio rental and engineer fees.
One singer from Lucknow told me she recorded her first single for ₹8,000. The producer covered the studio, she did the vocals, and they split royalties. That’s the reality for 90% of emerging artists. They’re trading time for exposure. If the song goes viral, they might get a call from a label six months later.
Studio Costs: What You’re Really Paying For
When you hear a singer’s fee, don’t forget the studio. A professional recording session in Mumbai or Delhi isn’t cheap. Top studios like YRF Studios or Offbeat Studio charge ₹15,000 to ₹50,000 per day. That includes:
- High-end microphones (Neumann TLM 103, Shure SM7B)
- Soundproofed booths with acoustic treatment
- Experienced sound engineers
- Pro Tools or Logic Pro setup
- Compressor, EQ, and reverb plugins
Some producers hire singers and engineers separately. Others bundle it. If you’re an independent artist with a ₹1 lakh budget, you might spend ₹60,000 on the singer and ₹30,000 on the studio. That leaves little for mixing and mastering-another ₹20,000 to ₹40,000.
Regional Differences Matter
What a singer charges in Mumbai isn’t the same as in Kolkata or Jaipur. In smaller cities, rates can be 50-70% lower. A singer in Bhopal might charge ₹20,000 for a film song where someone in Mumbai would ask for ₹1.5 lakh.
Regional film industries-like Tollywood (Telugu), Kollywood (Tamil), or Mollywood (Malayalam)-have their own pay scales. A top Telugu singer like Sid Sriram can charge ₹10 lakh per song, while a rising singer in Assam might work for ₹15,000 just to get their name on a soundtrack.
Ads and Commercials: A Different Ballgame
Corporate jingles and TV ads pay differently. For a 30-second jingle used nationwide, a well-known singer can earn ₹3 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Why? Because the song keeps playing for years. Unlike a movie song that fades after a few months, a jingle can run for five years on TV, radio, and YouTube.
Some singers get royalties from ads. Others take a flat fee. The brand’s budget matters. A local tea brand might pay ₹50,000. Coca-Cola or Pepsi? They’re paying ₹10 lakh or more.
What About Independent Artists?
More singers are skipping Bollywood entirely. They release music on Spotify, Apple Music, and Gaana. Their income? Mostly from streaming royalties and live gigs.
For a single indie track, recording costs might be ₹10,000-₹30,000 if they use a home studio. They don’t pay a producer. They mix it themselves. Then they spend ₹5,000 on mastering. That’s it. They keep 100% of the revenue.
One singer from Pune told me he made ₹2.4 lakh in a year from 12 songs on Spotify. Not bad for someone who didn’t spend a rupee on a professional studio. His secret? Consistency. He released one song every month. Over time, the algorithm noticed.
How to Budget for a Song in India
If you’re planning to record a song in India, here’s a realistic breakdown:
- Singer Fee: ₹10,000-₹25 lakh (depends on fame)
- Studio Rental: ₹15,000-₹50,000 per day (2-4 days typical)
- Sound Engineer: ₹10,000-₹30,000 (sometimes included in studio fee)
- Mixing & Mastering: ₹20,000-₹50,000
- Music Production (if needed): ₹50,000-₹2 lakh (for original composition)
Total? For a professional release: ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh. For a home-recorded indie track: ₹20,000-₹50,000.
What No One Tells You
Most singers don’t get paid upfront. They get paid in parts: 30% at booking, 40% after recording, 30% after final delivery. If you’re a producer, never pay 100% before hearing the final take. A singer might deliver a weak performance and vanish.
Also, don’t assume a big name will sing your song just because you can pay. They have managers, contracts, and calendars. You need a producer with connections. Cold emails rarely work.
And if you’re a singer? Build your portfolio. Record 10 songs. Put them on SoundCloud. Get feedback. Network with local producers. Your first paid gig might be ₹15,000. But if you’re good, your next one will be ₹1.5 lakh.
Who Pays the Most?
Big film studios still pay the most. But the real growth is in streaming platforms. Spotify India, JioSaavn, and Apple Music are signing direct deals with indie artists. Some offer ₹50,000-₹2 lakh for exclusive releases.
One singer from Bengaluru signed with Apple Music last year. They paid her ₹1.8 lakh for three songs and guaranteed placement on their ‘New Indian Artists’ playlist. Within three months, her monthly streams jumped from 50,000 to 2.1 million.
That’s the new path: skip the middleman. Go direct. Record smart. Build an audience. Let the platform pay you.