[Official] KOMCA on the verge of settling five years' worth of Apple Music royalties: "Payments to creators within the year"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Korea Music Copyright Association (Chairman Lee Si-ha, hereinafter KOMCA) is on the verge of finalizing the settlement of music royalties with the global music streaming platform Apple Music for approximately five years.

On the 16th, KOMCA announced that "negotiations regarding the settlement of royalties for music usage from the second quarter of 2021 through 2025 with Apple Music have entered the final stage." Both parties aim to conclude negotiations within the year and begin distributing royalties to music creators such as lyricists and composers.

For a long time, the settlement of Apple Music's music royalties has been significantly delayed due to contractual issues.

According to KOMCA, difficulties arose in royalty settlements following a unilateral notice of contract termination by the association's former executive secretary-general in 2024. However, as the 25th executive board of KOMCA, which took office this year, continued negotiations with Apple Music, a long-standing settlement issue has found a path to resolution.

In particular, as Apple Music has also shown active willingness regarding royalty settlements, both parties are on the verge of reaching an agreement on music usage for approximately five years.

The current negotiations are also discussing royalty calculation standards suited to the changing music streaming environment.

While considering Apple Music's diversified service models, such as free trials, re-listening, and new subscription plans, KOMCA is adjusting detailed conditions so that fair compensation commensurate with actual music usage can be returned to creators. The purpose is to protect the rights of creators and establish a stable royalty payment system in a situation where domestic music, including K-pop, is consumed through global streaming platforms.

KOMCA expects that once these negotiations are concluded, it will not only distribute royalties that have gone unsettled for a long period to creators but also serve as an opportunity to strengthen cooperative relationships with global music platforms going forward.

KOMCA Chairman Lee Si-ha stated, "I am very pleased that we can return royalties that had not been paid for a long time to the creators," adding, "Above all, I am grateful to Apple Music for actively cooperating in order to reach an amicable agreement."

He further emphasized, "We will complete the remaining procedures without any issues so that these negotiations lead to actual royalty payments," and added, "Going forward, we will maintain close cooperative relationships with global music platforms to create an environment where creators receive fair compensation and can continue their creative activities stably."

While aiming to conclude negotiations with Apple Music within the year, KOMCA plans to expand cooperation with major domestic and international music platforms to protect the rights of music creators and improve the royalty distribution system.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original