News Release

The Association For Protecting Music Education and the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) announced on February 28 that they have reached an agreement on new royalty rates for musical instrument classes. These rates aim to ensure the development of music culture and the continuity of music education that supports it, as well as the proper protection of copyrights. The rates also clarify how works are used in musical instrument classes.

Outline of royalty rates for "performances, etc. of musical instruments by instructors of musical instrument classes"

Musical instrument class operators pay royalties as follows:
- Royalties for lessons for adults are 750 yen (excluding tax) per student per year;
- Royalties for lessons for children (junior high students and younger) are 100 yen (excluding tax) per student per year; and
- For minimal use (Administered Works are used a few times a year and not on a regular basis): Royalties are set for each lesson and each piece of music.

During the negotiations, the parties discussed appropriate royalties for the copyrighted scope covered by copyright that has been determined by the Supreme Court (instructors' performances or performances of sound recordings). Reaching an agreement took two years from the Supreme Court's decision, since considerable time was spent on discussing how to interpret it during the earlier stages of the negotiations.

The main purpose of these rates is to protect the future of music. Especially, consideration has been given not to impose restrictions on the selection of music for children's lessons. As before, royalties do not apply to classes that are run by individuals.
The new rates will come into effect in April this year. After that, musical instrument class operators will pay royalties retroactive to the start of the administration of the new rates (April 2018) and the parties will proceed with their respective operations in accordance with the new rates for musical instrument classes.

Comments by OIKE Masato, President, Association For Protecting Music Education

Music enriches people's minds, promotes connections between people and is an integral part of society. The development of music culture requires a virtuous cycle of (i) the promotion of use, (ii) the protection of right holders and (iii) an increase in the number of music performers. This case was about how this cycle should be maintained. During the past eight years, we have been able to achieve massive successes: new legal interpretations of copyrights, and new royalty rates that take into consideration the children upon whom our future dependent. We musical instrument class operators take this decision seriously and will further our initiatives to increase the number of music performers.

Comments by IZAWA Kazumasa, President, JASRAC

We have reached an agreement with the Association For Protecting Music Education on royalty rates. During the past eight years, we have reviewed the balance between the protection of copyrights and the use of music. We recognize that providing those attending musical instrument classes, especially children, with opportunities to enjoy a wide variety of music is critical to the continuous development of music culture. With this in mind, we were able to reach an agreement on new royalty rates that are satisfactory to both parties. With its administration starting under the new royalty rates, JASRAC will be engaged in efforts to ensure that musical instrument class operators are able to use musical works with peace of mind, having received adequate explanations beforehand.

Association For Protecting Music Education

The Association For Protecting Music Education was formed in February 2017 by seven companies and organizations running music education businesses in order to respond to JASRAC's initiatives to collect royalties from musical instrument classes. Subsequently, the Association called on other relevant companies and organizations to join the organization. It currently has more than 300 corporate members.

Timeline