Caller tune royalty in India: how artists earn from JioTunes, Hellotunes, Vi and BSNL
By the SUF Digitals team · Updated
A caller tune earns every month a listener keeps your song set on Jio, Airtel, Vi or BSNL. The listener pays their telecom, either as a pack or inside their plan, and a share of that reaches the song's rights holders, then you through your distributor. SUF's royalty calculator estimates Rs 1 to Rs 3 per active subscriber a month. Here is how the money moves, what changes it, and how to get more fans to set your tune.
How a caller tune earns, step by step
- Your distributor sends your release to the telecoms as a caller tune, with the start point you chose, at the same time as the streaming stores.
- The telecom activates it, a few days to about two weeks after your release goes live.
- A listener sets your song as their caller tune, from JioSaavn or MyJio, the Airtel app, or their operator's own service on Vi and BSNL.
- Every month the tune stays active, the telecom counts it and shares part of what that listener pays with the rights holders.
- The telecom reports to your distributor, and your share appears on your statement under caller tunes, a couple of months after the month it was active.
What a caller tune is worth
There is no public rate card. Each telecom sets its own prices and packs, and free caller tune offers change what is paid per tune. SUF's royalty calculator uses Rs 1 to Rs 3 per active subscriber a month as a working estimate, before your plan's share.
| Active caller tune subscribers | Estimated per month | Estimated per year |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Rs 100 to Rs 300 | Rs 1,200 to Rs 3,600 |
| 1,000 | Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 | Rs 12,000 to Rs 36,000 |
| 10,000 | Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 | Rs 1,20,000 to Rs 3,60,000 |
Why caller tunes matter more than streams for some music
A stream pays once. A caller tune pays every month it stays set, and many people keep the same tune for months. That is why regional and devotional catalogues in Haryanvi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani and bhajan music can earn more from caller tunes than from Spotify, and why international distributors that cannot deliver to Indian telecoms leave that money on the table.
How fans set your song in 2026
| Network | Where fans set it | Worth telling them |
|---|---|---|
| Jio (JioTunes) | Inside JioSaavn or the MyJio app, in a few taps | Every Jio user gets one free JioTune every 30 days (since August 2026); JioSaavn Pro users can change it any time. |
| Airtel (Hellotunes) | The Airtel app, under HelloTune | One free Hellotune every 30 days for every active prepaid and postpaid customer; a monthly pack allows unlimited changes. Wynk no longer sets Hellotunes. |
| Vi | The Vi app or Vi's caller tune service | Search your song title and artist name. |
| BSNL | BSNL's caller tune service | Search your song title and artist name. |
Airtel's own page says Hellotunes are not auto-renewed after 30 days: the fan sets one again to keep it. Remind fans each month, especially in festival seasons. Details: JioTunes for artists and Airtel Hellotunes for artists.
What makes a caller tune earn more
- A start point at the hook. On SUF you choose where the caller tune starts, with at least 30 seconds of song after it. Start on the line people sing along to, not the intro.
- Songs people want callers to hear. Devotional songs, romantic hooks, festival songs and regional hits outperform aggressive tracks.
- Timing. Release three to four weeks before a festival, so the tune is active when people go looking.
- A clear ask. Tell fans how to set it on Jio and Airtel in your posts, your WhatsApp status and your smart link.
- A clean title. Fans search the song by name. Keep the title short and spelt the way people type it.
Content telecoms refuse as caller tunes
Telecoms apply their own rules on top of the stores'. Brand names, pranks, political content, advertisements, corporate tones, the national anthem, current affairs and objectionable words are not accepted as caller tunes, even when the song itself is live on Spotify.
If your caller tune is not live yet
Allow up to about two weeks after release day: activation is done by each operator and is slower than the streaming stores. If one network still cannot find the song after that, tell us in Support with the song name and the network, and we chase that operator. Search by the exact title and artist name, as caller tune catalogues do not correct spelling.
Common questions
How much do artists earn per caller tune in India?
There is no public fixed rate. SUF's calculator estimates Rs 1 to Rs 3 per active subscriber a month, before your plan's share. Your statement shows the real figure.
Do I earn when a fan sets my song as a free JioTune or Hellotune?
Free offers are run by the telecoms, and how they pay rights holders for them is set in their own agreements, so the amount for a free tune can differ from a paid one. Your statement shows what reached you.
When is caller tune money paid?
Telecoms report a couple of months after the month the tune was active, like the streaming stores, and it is paid with the rest of your royalties on your plan's schedule.
Is caller tune delivery included in my plan?
Yes. Caller tunes on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL are included on every SUF plan, from Debut at Rs 999 a year plus GST.
Can I choose which part of my song plays?
Yes. On SUF you set the caller tune start time on each track, usually at the hook, with at least 30 seconds of song after it.
Keep reading
Want your songs as caller tunes?
Caller tunes on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL are included on every SUF plan, from Rs 999 a year.
How caller tunes work