How Kobalt x Madverse Signals a New Era for South Asian Indie Songwriters

Stop leaving money on the table: what the Kobalt–Madverse tie-up means for South Asian indie songwriters

Independent creators in South Asia face two consistent headaches: fragmented royalty systems and limited access to global publishing infrastructure. If you’ve ever wondered why a song gets millions of streams but the payouts, metadata and licensing opportunities don’t follow, the January 2026 partnership between Kobalt and Madverse changes the calculus. This deal plugs South Asian indie catalogs into one of the music industry's most sophisticated publishing administration networks — and it gives creators new levers to collect royalties, claim rights and scale globally.

What happened (quick primer for busy creators)

In mid-January 2026 Kobalt announced a worldwide partnership with Madverse Music Group, an India-based company that serves a large community of South Asian independent songwriters, composers and producers. Under the agreement, Madverse’s roster will gain access to Kobalt’s publishing administration and global collection infrastructure — meaning more complete royalty collection, better reporting and more opportunities for licensing and sync across territories.

Why this matters now

Streaming and short-form discovery exploded across South Asia in 2024–2025, but the local publishing and collection ecosystem hasn’t always scaled at the same speed. Creators faced missed mechanicals, delayed PRO payouts and opaque sub-publishing splits. The Kobalt–Madverse partnership responds directly to that gap by combining local market knowledge with global admin reach.

How Kobalt’s publishing administration changes the game

To evaluate practical impact, break down what publishing administration actually does and why access to Kobalt’s network is meaningful:

• Comprehensive royalty collection — Publishing admins chase mechanical, performance and sync royalties across DSPs, broadcasters and collective management organizations worldwide. Kobalt operates collection relationships and systems that find money faster.
• Global sub-publisher networks — When a territory requires a local sub-publisher to collect on a songwriter’s behalf, Kobalt’s existing agreements remove friction and time lags that typically dilute indie earnings.
• Metadata & split management — Incorrect metadata and unclear splits are the top technical reason royalties go unpaid. Kobalt’s systems enforce accurate split sheets, ISWC/ISRC registration and DDEX-compliant metadata flows.
• Transparency & reporting — Kobalt has built products that surface granular usage and earnings data; for creators that data enables smarter release and sync strategies.

What Madverse brings to the table

Madverse is embedded in the South Asian indie ecosystem. Its strengths complement Kobalt:

• Local A&R and language reach — Deep understanding of regional languages, markets and tastemakers across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the South Asian diaspora.
• On-the-ground relationships — Connections with local venues, indie labels, creators and digital marketing channels that are essential for playlisting and sync in regional markets.
• Community-first distribution — Madverse already services independent songwriters with distribution and artist development — now their creators gain global admin access without leaving the local ecosystem.

Bottom line: Kobalt provides the plumbing; Madverse brings the creators. For indie songwriters that combination reduces friction between streams and payout, and creates clearer paths to global licensing.

Actionable checklist: How to leverage the partnership (step-by-step)

If you’re an indie songwriter in South Asia (or working cross-border with South Asian artists), here’s a practical playbook to capture the upside.

1. Confirm your status and rights ownership

   Before signing any admin agreement, make sure you actually control the rights you’re offering: verify your co-writer splits, any prior publishing deals and whether master or publishing rights are encumbered. Clean rights = cleaner, faster collections.

2. Register with your local PRO and update metadata

   In India the IPRS is the primary rights society for many creators; confirm registration there and with any other national PROs relevant to your catalog. Then tidy metadata: accurate songwriter names, ISWCs, ISRCs and split percentages. Kobalt’s systems work best when you hand them clean metadata.

3. Onboard through Madverse for Kobalt admin access

   Madverse will serve as the local touchpoint. Ask them specifically how Kobalt’s admin will be applied to your catalog: which rights are being administered (publishing only, or publishing + neighboring rights?), what territories are included, and whether the arrangement is exclusive or non-exclusive.

4. Negotiate the admin terms you need

   Key negotiation points: fee rate (typical publishing admin fees vary), term length, audit rights, termination notice, treatment of existing licenses and sub-publishing costs. Retain as many rights as possible — administration should be about collection, not ownership transfer.

5. Use split sheets and digital tools at creation

   From the first session, document writer splits and contributors using cloud-based split tools or standardized agreement templates. Kobalt’s tech expects those inputs; don’t let split mistakes follow a song into global territories.

6. Claim neighboring and mechanical rights

   In many markets performance and neighboring/mechanical royalties are handled by separate societies or organizations. Ask Madverse + Kobalt to confirm how they will claim these additional revenue streams for you. Where possible, register recordings with local collecting entities and SoundExchange (for US digital performance) to ensure completeness.

7. Leverage analytics for targeted pitching

   Once your catalog is administered, use Kobalt’s reporting to identify regions with unexpected traction. Pitch those territories for playlists, sync placements and localized marketing campaigns — not just big markets but regional pockets where your song resonates.

8. Explore sync and licensing with local-first narratives

   Madverse’s local storytelling strengths plus Kobalt’s global sync network are a match. Prepare stems, clearance documents and bilingual metadata to accelerate sync deals for films, OTT platforms and ads that need authentic South Asian content.

Advanced strategies: Maximize earnings and discovery in 2026

Beyond the basics, here are higher-leverage tactics you can implement now.

1. Localized metadata and multilingual credits

2026 playlists and algorithmic discovery favor accurate, localized metadata. Provide songwriter and contributor names in native scripts and transliteration, and tag language, dialect and mood clearly. This helps DSPs and regional platforms route your music to the right audiences.

2. Micro-sync licensing for short-form creators

Short-form platforms and UGC remain major drivers of streams. Package micro-sync licenses for creators and publishers on TikTok, Instagram Reels and localized short-form apps. Kobalt’s administration opens doors to standardized licensing, reducing friction for creators who want to legally use your music.

3. Use analytics to create region-specific release strategies

If Kobalt reporting shows traction in, say, Gulf countries or Singapore, launch targeted promos, translated social creatives and influencer partnerships in those markets rather than relying only on broad, global campaigns.

4. Consider non-exclusive admin relationships

Non-exclusive administration gives you flexibility to test sub-publishers or direct licensing deals while Kobalt handles collection. This hybrid approach can be particularly useful for creators who want to pursue sync or bespoke partnerships without long-term lockups.

5. Audit regularly and automate split updates

Ensure your admin agreement includes audit rights. Use automated split-management tools integrated with your publisher admin so any change (co-writer credit, sample clearances) updates in every system from the moment it’s approved.

Negotiation red flags — what to watch for

• Vague scope: Be wary if the agreement doesn’t list exactly which rights are administered (mechanical, performance, sync, neighboring) and which territories are covered.
• Perpetual assignment: Administration should not transfer ownership. Avoid language that implies permanent assignment of publishing rights.
• Opaque fees: Ask for a clear fee schedule: commission rates, deductions for foreign sub-publishers and pass-through costs must be transparent.
• No audit clause: Insist on audit rights and regular statements; without these you cede visibility into collections and disbursements.
• Lengthy termination penalties: Shorter terms with renewals are more creator-friendly, especially as markets evolve rapidly in 2026.

Hypothetical case study: How a Bengali indie songwriter turns local virality into global income

Meet Aisha, an indie songwriter based in Kolkata who writes in Bengali and English. Her song goes viral on a regional short-form app and racks up 20 million plays across multiple platforms. Before the Kobalt–Madverse tie-up, Aisha received delayed PRO checks and no clear path to sync deals outside South Asia.

Using the new partnership, here’s what happens:

1. Madverse signs Aisha for distribution and onboarding; they prepare clean metadata and split sheets.
2. Madverse enrolls the song in Kobalt’s admin system for publishing collection across territories.
3. Kobalt identifies unclaimed neighboring and mechanical royalties in markets where the song was streamed and files claims via local sub-publishers.
4. With verification of cross-border traction, Kobalt’s sync team pitches the song to an OTT platform needing authentic South Asian music for a new series; Aisha secures a sync fee and backend publishing split revenue.
5. Aisha uses the transparent reporting to negotiate a non-exclusive micro-sync package for UGC platforms, opening an additional revenue stream without giving away full administration rights.

Outcome: Within 12 months, Aisha’s overall publishing income increases, payments arrive more consistently, and she gains global licensing opportunities without losing creative control.

2026 trends and the near future — what to expect next

Several trends in late 2025 and early 2026 are shaping how publishing deals like Kobalt–Madverse will matter going forward:

• Hyper-local discovery drives global demand: DSPs increasingly promote regional-language playlists that cross-border listeners engage with, creating sync and touring opportunities for local creators.
• Greater demand for transparency: Creators want real-time and granular royalty data. Expect publishers and admins to compete on clarity of reporting and faster payment cycles.
• AI and metadata automation: AI tools will accelerate metadata tagging and language detection, making accurate registrations easier — but creators must still verify and approve splits.
• Micro-licensing markets expand: As short-form and UGC continue to monetize, standardized micro-licensing (with automated payments) will grow, and admins that support it will capture more value.

Final takeaways — what you should do this month

• Audit your catalog: Clean metadata, confirm ISWC/ISRC and update split sheets.
• Talk to Madverse about Kobalt admin: Ask for specifics on territories, rights administered and fee structure.
• Register with your PROs: Make sure your membership and song registrations are current.
• Prepare assets for sync: Stems, clearances and bilingual metadata accelerate licensing.
• Negotiate for transparency: Insist on reporting cadence, audit rights and clear termination clauses.

Conclusion — a practical opportunity, not a magic bullet

The Kobalt–Madverse partnership is a significant step toward leveling the playing field for South Asian indie songwriters. It brings global publishing administration capabilities to creators who were previously constrained by local collection gaps and opaque sub-publishing mechanics. That said, the partnership amplifies potential — it doesn’t replace careful rights management, metadata hygiene and smart negotiation.

For creators who take the practical steps in this guide, the partnership delivers two things that matter in 2026: more complete royalty collection and clearer pathways to global licensing. Those are the building blocks for sustainable careers.

Ready to act? Audit your catalog today, reach out to Madverse for onboarding details and prepare split sheets so you can be plugged into Kobalt’s admin fast — and start turning local momentum into global income.

Call to action

If you’re an indie songwriter, label or publisher in South Asia: schedule a catalog audit, request a copy of your metadata report and ask Madverse about Kobalt admin onboarding. If you want a step-by-step checklist tailored to your catalog size, download our free admin-playbook for South Asian creators or contact our team for a one-on-one session to prepare your catalog for global collection.

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