In Japan a shop or café playing background music needs a JASRAC BGM licence for the works JASRAC manages. Recordings carry no public performance right in shops today, but a 2026 amendment will add a remuneration right.
| Who | What for | |
|---|---|---|
| JASRAC | Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers | BGM licence for works it manages |
| NexTone | NexTone Inc. | Second music copyright manager; BGM role unclear |
| Not yet designated | Organisations for the new record playback right | Remuneration for commercial recordings once the 2026 amendment is in force |
JASRAC's BGM in facilities licence (use fee regulation item 12) covers JASRAC managed works played as background music in shops, restaurants, hotels and other facilities from commercial CDs, internet delivered sources or wired music broadcasts. It is issued per facility, chains can contract in bulk, and a store sticker is issued. Copying music to another medium needs a separate procedure; BGM only use can be applied for online.
No JASRAC procedure is needed for unmodified TV or radio broadcasts on household receivers (with exceptions such as internet radio), for welfare, medical and educational facilities, for offices or factories where the music is mainly for staff, or when a BGM provider holding a JASRAC licence pays on the shop's behalf.
Fees depend on shop floor area for shops and restaurants, and on guest capacity for accommodation, with annual, monthly or per song tariffs, plus consumption tax.
Example from the JASRAC tariff (PDF last modified 25 April 2025): a shop up to 500 m2, or accommodation up to 100 guests, pays JPY 6,000 a year plus consumption tax, or JPY 1,200 a month. Higher tiers: up to 1,000 m2 JPY 10,000, up to 3,000 m2 JPY 20,000, up to 6,000 m2 JPY 30,000, up to 9,000 m2 JPY 40,000, over 9,000 m2 JPY 50,000 a year.
This point is unclear in Japan. On the copyright side, JASRAC's BGM licence explicitly covers internet delivered sources, so JASRAC does not prohibit streamed sources. Consumer plans of Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube are licensed for personal, noncommercial use under their own terms, so a private account is not a license to play music to customers. JASRAC notes that internet radio needs a procedure, unlike plain TV or radio received on household equipment.
JASRAC's BGM page says no JASRAC procedure is needed if you play only public domain works, or only works whose performance right JASRAC does not manage; then check with that rights holder. JASRAC is not a mandatory collective and has no statutory presumption, but it manages most commercial repertoire, so keep documentation (provider licence, track lists).
For the future: the 2026 Copyright Act amendment (Act No. 48 of 2026, promulgated 24 June 2026) creates remuneration rights for performers and record producers when commercial recordings, including streamed ones, are played in public. It is collected only by designated organisations and takes effect on a date set by Cabinet Order within 3 years, by June 2029 at the latest. How it will apply to tracks from royalty free providers is unclear until the designated bodies publish rules. Nonprofit, free of charge playback is exempt.
JASRAC brings civil actions; it filed civil mediation against 151 businesses over store BGM in 2018, and a 2018 Sapporo District Court judgment found infringement.
Dr.DIO Studio makes its own electronic and ambient music, no Dr.DIO track is registered with any collecting society, and the Business plan ($14.99 a month per venue, 14 days free) gives the venue a direct public playback license and a certificate for Dr.DIO music.
Today JASRAC does not manage Dr.DIO works and Japan has no public performance right for recordings in shops, so a venue playing only Dr.DIO music needs no JASRAC procedure for it; keep the certificate as the rights holder's licence. Once the 2026 amendment takes effect, whether its recordings remuneration reaches Dr.DIO recordings is unclear until the designated bodies publish their rules.
Any other music in the venue, such as radio, TV, live music or other playlists, still needs the usual licences.
This page explains the general rules as published by the societies and laws listed above, checked in October 2026. It is not legal advice; fees and rules change, so confirm with the society before you decide.
JPY 6,000 a year plus consumption tax for up to 500 m2, or JPY 1,200 a month; larger shops pay up to JPY 50,000 a year.
Apply to JASRAC for the BGM in facilities licence, online for BGM only use, per facility. A store sticker is issued.
Through JASRAC's online BGM application; the fee depends on floor area.
JASRAC's licence covers internet sources, but Spotify's terms allow only personal, noncommercial use, so a personal account is not suitable.
The 2026 amendment takes effect on a date set by Cabinet Order within 3 years of promulgation on 24 June 2026, so by June 2029 at the latest.
Yes, if JASRAC does not manage the works' performance right; check with the rights holder and keep documentation.
