Until now, it was almost impossible for foreign artists/labels without a record deal in Japan to get their music for sale in the main digital internet and mobile stores in Japan. Today, the vast majority of Japanese consumers purchase digital music rather than CD's. We are offering this service as a solution for foreign artists/labels to get their music for sale in the main digital internet and mobile stores in Japan.

There are 2 main formats of digital music content sold in Japan:

FORMAT 1
Chaku-Uta™ / Chaku-Uta™ Full
These are special music file formats compatible with traditional mobile phones (known as keitai in Japanese). They are typically purchased and downloaded via the mobile carrier network. A Chaku-Uta can only be used (technically and legally speaking) on the mobile phone to which it was downloaded. Chaku-Uta is a registered trademark of Sony Music Entertainment. The sales, technology and distribution of Chaku-Uta is highly regulated in Japan by the major phone carriers, record labels and rights administrators.

Chaku-Uta™ are ringtones (and ringback tones).
Chaku-Uta™ Full are full songs in "CD" quality.

FORMAT 2
Downloads via the internet to computers, smartphones and other music devices (iTunes, Amazon MP3 Store, etc.)
These are the traditional MP3/AAC or other music files that you can download via the internet to your smartphone, tablet or computer. These downloads cannot be used (technically and legally speaking) on traditional keitai mobile phones in Japan.

*The standard wholesale price for a digital song is around 60 YEN.

In the West, most digital music sales are downloads from the internet, but in Japan almost 90% of all digital music sales (over $1 billion worth) are Chaku-Uta formats for traditional mobile phones while only about 10% are downloads via internet to computers and other devices. This is due to the advanced mobile phone culture in Japan and the fact that people still use the traditional keitai mobile phone as their primary music device. More people own a mobile phone instead of a computer. (However, due to the growing popularity and sales of smartphones in Japan, we expect downloads via the internet to rise significantly.)

By using this service your music can be available for sale in Japan in all digital formats (Chaku-Uta™ and internet downloads) for all popular devices.

The following are the things we do:

We make a digital "Japan Version" of your album and give your album its own JAN barcode. A JAN (Japan Article Number) barcode is the Japanese equivalent of a UPC or EAN barcode. A JAN barcode is required to distribute your album to Japanese stores.

We add the words "Japan Version" to your album title. We also add some Japanese text to your cover art. Even if your original album and songs are already available for sale at some stores and even if the cover art and tracks are the same, by attaching a JAN barcode and title variation, your "Japan Version" album becomes a new and different product. (You can even decide to include different, more or fewer tracks than in your original album, or even use different cover art.)

Then we process your "Japan Version" album for digital distribution to the Japanese stores shown above. (Your music is also made into Chaku-Uta™, Chaku-Uta™ Full, MP3, AAC, and other formats so it can be sold in Japanese digital internet and mobile stores, and be compatible with popular devices/carriers in Japan.)

We also add the links to the Japanese stores on your TopMusic.jp Web+Mobile Site so people can easily buy your music. If you don't have a TopMusic.jp Web+Mobile Site yet, click here to get one.

We transfer 90% of sales revenue we receive for your album to you. We DON'T take any rights to your music or make you do anything else. This is not a record or distribution "deal", it is a simple distribution "service" to get your music for sale in Japanese digital stores. (In most record or distribution "deals" you usually get less than 50% of sales minus expenses.)

The following are the things we require from you to distribute your digital album in Japan

*You will be asked to submit your album/song info, cover art and wave files to us online. We do not accept CD's or paper photos.
*Payment by VISA, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, eCheck, Bank (PayPal).

How to make your "Japan Version" digital album a special one.

Tip 1: If possible, include a bonus track only for the "Japan Version" album.
Tip 2: Use a slightly or completely different cover art for the "Japan Version" album.
Tip 3: Use different, more or fewer tracks for the "Japan Version" album.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions (Service Details, Terms & Conditions)

Q: How much does your digital distribution service cost?
A: The regular setup fee is $149 per album + $9 per song. So if you have a single (1-song album), it will cost a total of $158. If you have a 10-song album, it will cost a total of $239. There are no monthly or annual fees.

Q: I only have 1 song. Can I still use your digital distribution service?
A: Yes, your 1 song will be considered and distributed as a 1-song album (i.e. a single).

Q: Up to how many songs can my album have?
A: There is a maximum of 16 songs per album.

Q: How long can a song be?
A: Songs can be almost any reasonable length but we recommend a maximum of 8 minutes for a song. Anything greater than that may not work properly with Chaku-Uta formats and mobile stores. Songs over 8 minutes may be trimmed by mobile stores.

Q: Can I have a hidden track or bonus track?
A: We cannot hide tracks in a digital album, but we can add the words "Hidden Track" or "Bonus Track" to the song title.

Q: What genres of music do you accept?
A: We accept all genres of music but some stores such as Wasabeat, Beatport and Juno Download primarily sell DJ/Club music so if your album is not in that genre, it will not be distributed to these stores. Other stores sell all genres of music.

Q: I am an indie artist/band with no record label or publisher. Can I still use your digital distribution service?
A: Yes, this service was created to offer a solution for all creators of music to have the opportunity to sell their music in Japan.

Q: How much do I get paid?
A: We pay you 90% of all money collected from your sales. We send you a quarterly sales report which shows how much we collected in Japanese YEN. There are still some middlemen (distributor/aggregator) and the stores who take a share of the sales. Whatever is left is paid to us. Then we transfer 90% of that payment to you. See example below:

*The standard wholesale price for 1 digital song is about 60 YEN. So you can expect to receive around 40 YEN per digital song sold.

Q: When do I get paid?
A: Quarterly payments are made within 2 quarters following end of the quarter only if your balance is 5,000 Yen or greater. For example Quarter 1 Jan-March sales are paid by the end of Quarter 3 July-Sept. (It takes the stores and distributor several months to make reports, collect and distribute sales money.)

Q: How do I get paid?
A: We send your payment in Japanese YEN to your PayPal account. PayPal will convert it to your preferred currency. So a PayPal account is required.

Q: Do I get a report?
A: We send you a quarterly sales report via email or online which shows details of your digital music sales and how much we collected in Japanese YEN. (Quarterly reports are sent within 2 quarters following end of quarter. For example Quarter 1 Jan-March sales are reported by the end of Quarter 3 July-Sept.)

Q: Are there any monthly or annual fees?
A: No.

Q: How long does it take to get my music for sale in the Japanese stores?
A: Once we receive all your materials in the proper format and confirmed your payment, it will take about 1 week for us to process your album. After we submit it for distribution it may show up in some stores in as little as 1 week while other stores may take up to 8 weeks. Each store has its own policies and system for reviewing new items and updating its store catalog, so times may vary.

Q: How do I know my music is for sale in the Japanese stores?
A: About 4-8 weeks later our staff wil search the main stores for your album and we will add the store links to your TopMusic.jp Web+Mobile Site. You can see the links there. Or you can go to the store sites directly and search for your album. (Tip: Go to http://google.co.jp and search your band name putting quotation marks around it to find Japanese page results containing your band name. In other words, "Google" yourself on Google Japan.)

Q: Can I specify a release date?
A: Yes, but it should be a date at least 8 weeks later. Generally, you do not have to specify a release date. If you do not specify a date, it will be released as soon as the store adds it to their catalog. Since each store has its own system for updating its catalog, it is difficult to control the date at which an item will be available for sale.

Q: Will my music be for sale in all the Japanese stores shown above?
A: We submit your album for distribution to the Japanese stores shown above, but it is the decision of the operators/administrators of each store to sell your album. Due to this reason we cannot guarantee that your music will be for sale at all the stores shown above. In general, if your music does not infringe on any rights and conforms to the policies and standards of the store it will most likely be added to the store's catalog. Stores such as Wasabeat, Beatport and Juno Download are for DJ/Club genres only so if your album is not in this genre it will not be distributed to these stores. Also, very poor quality recordings (i.e. noise, pops, distortion, too low/high volume, very unprofessional recordings, etc.) may not be added by stores. Also see FAQ about explicit lyrics and cover art below.

Q: Do you give refunds?
A: There are no refunds once we have started processing your album for distribution. If you request cancellation by email soon after submitting your application and payment, and before we have begun to process your album, we can give you a refund (minimium $25 refund fee applies).

Q: Can you distribute an album with cover songs or samples?
A: You must own the copyright or have the permission to use and sell the music on your album. We assume that you have already arranged all licenses and rights for cover songs and samples. You are responsible for the music submitted. If your album/songs infringe on any rights or laws, then stores may not not add your album to their catalog and you may face the risk of legal action. Top Music Japan and its owners, partners and staff are not responsible for any damage or losses. So make sure you have cleared all cover songs and samples before submitting your music. Note that no refunds are provided. (You should contact the publisher and songwriter of the original song to negotiate and obtain both publishing and mechanical licenses for the territory of Japan. We may ask you to show us these licenses before processing your application if it has covers, remakes, remixes or samples. We do not research, negotiate or obtain licenses on your behalf. We have the right to refuse applications if we believe the proper licenses have not been obtained for Japan.)

Q: Can I change the album tracks, cover art or info later?
A: No. Once submitted for distribution we cannot change or add anything. So be careful when submitting your music and materials. Make sure it is exactly what you want before confirming your application.

Q: What will be shown for the record label name in the Japanese stores?
A: Top Music Japan or Router/JICS MEDIA (our company or label names) may be shown as the record label name in some Japanese stores. If you have your own record label, it will not be shown. But some stores display the the album's copyright (phonogram) holder. If the holder is your record label, then your record label may be shown with other album info. Note that we cannot control what album info the store chooses or does not choose to display. Although our company name may appear as your record label in album info in some Japanese stores, it is only for the purpose of this digital distribution service and we are not taking any rights to your music or giving you a record label deal. (We are registered as a record label in Japan. In order to be able to offer this service to you and other foreign indies, our company name has to be submitted as the record label to the Japanese digital stores.)

Q: My album is already available on iTunes. Can you distribute to all the stores except iTunes?
A: Yes. But your "Japan Version" album with its own JAN barcode and title variation will be counted as a new/different album so it can be sold in the same store as your original album. But if you really don't want us to distribute to iTunes, then just let us know in the application form. There is no change in setup fees. Except for iTunes, we cannot exclude any other stores listed above. (*Non DJ/Club albums will not be distributed to Wasabeat, Beatport or Juno Download.)

Q: Can I cancel distribution later? (i.e. Can I pull my digital album from the catalogs of the Japanese digital stores?)
A: Once your album has been distributed and it is added to the catalogs of the Japanese stores, it is very difficult to cancel. If you really wish to pull your digital album from the catalogs of the Japanese stores, we must notifiy the distributor/aggregator who must also make arrangements with each store. You will be charged whatever costs are associated with these actions. Note that this may amount to the same or more than the setup cost and may take several weeks to perform. In short, it is possible but time-consuming and costly. Contact us if you wish to do this.

• You fully own the rights to the image.
• You have the rights to use the face or image of anyone in your artwork, especially if it's a photograph.
• If someone else provided you the image, you have permission from them to use it.
• No logos, trademarks or any other text or images can appear unless you own them or have permission from the owner(s) to use them. For example, you cannot have a logo from a soda company, restaurant, gas station, store, etc., in the background. If things like that show up in your artwork, we might might ask you to prove you have ownership or permission.
• No obscenity or pornography can appear in the image.
• Words that appear in the image are spelled correctly and are legible.
• The image is not blurry or distorted (unless for artistic purposes).
• The final image is a jpeg/jpg file in RGB color and 72 dpi.
• The final image file is a square (minimum 710 x 710 pixels; preferably 1400 x 1400 pixels)

Note: We have the right to reject any artwork at any time for any reason.

Q: How do Explicit Lyrics work?
A: Albums, EPs or singles with explicit lyrics are permitted on iTunes and some other stores, but they must be marked explicit. This is voluntary, but if it is later discovered your album, EP or single has explicit lyrics and you failed to indicate it, both Top Music Japan and the stores/services reserve the right to remove it at any time, or it may be rejected right from the beginning. Even if only 1 song from your album contains explicit lyrics then this indication applies to the entire album. There are no refunds provided.

Q: Is Top Music Japan a distributor?
A: Top Music Japan is not a distributor, but we are registered as a record label in Japan. This means we can tap into the Japanese distribution system that was set up especially for independent Japanese record companies. Until now, it was almost impossible for foreign artists/labels without a record deal in Japan to get their music for sale in the main digital internet and mobile stores in Japan. Today, the vast majority of Japanese consumers purchase digital music rather than CD's. We are offering this service as a solution for foreign artists/labels to get their music for sale in the main digital shops in Japan.

Q: I don't have a paid Top Music Japan Web+Mobile Site. Can I still use your digital distribution service?
A: No. This service was developed especially for the needs of the many artists, bands and labels that have paid for a Japanese web+mobile site and other music marketing services at Top Music Japan. You can easily order a Japanese web+mobile site by clicking here. Distribution is only one step to making it "Big in Japan". Please see the Support and Resource Center to see what is available for artists and bands at Top Music Japan.

You are fully responsible for all music, images, information, and other materials submitted and for ensuring that any submitted materials do not violate any applicable laws. Top Music Japan and its owners, administrators, partners, and staff are not responsible for any damage or losses that may be incurred through the use of this and any services or products offered by Top Music Japan and JICS MEDIA. By submitting the digital distribution application online you declare that you are authorized to make such application and that you have fully read and understood the service description and agree to the terms and conditions presented in this website. We have the right to reject any application at any time for any reason.

APPLICATION FORM

*NOTE:This service is only available to artists (and their labels/managers) with a Paid Version Web+Mobile site at TopMusic.jp. If you do not have one yet, click here.