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A record of persevering and completing the applications to JASRAC and other organizations for creating a wedding slideshow DVD without giving up

A record of persevering and completing the applications to JASRAC and other organizations for creating a wedding slideshow DVD without giving up
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(Background) To play your favorite songs at a wedding, you need to pay copyright fees.

I applied for copyright and neighboring rights for creating a slideshow for a close friend’s wedding, and it was a struggle, so I’m leaving a record for those who come after me.

When I searched blogs, I found that many people gave up halfway because applying as an individual is such a hassle, so I approached it with a strong resolve to absolutely not give up midway.

We won’t be explaining differences like those between copyright and neighboring rights here.

Music Use in Bridal Settings – JASRAC

Please study it yourself by looking at JASRAC's page (this page is super clear and awesome).

Note: What I applied for was the copyright fee and the reproduction right fee for “reproduction” use in the link above.

I don’t have any plans to make a slideshow in the future, but thank you to those who took the time to watch it!

ISUM virtually holds a monopoly on wedding music licensing.

First of all, even if you directly contact each record label one by one saying, “We want to use this song, so we’d like to apply for neighboring rights and confirm the copyright,” most labels will give a stock reply: “Please ask ISUM.” (Many thanks to the inquiry staff at each record label who responded.)

Therefore, when creating something like a wedding slideshow on your own,

This method is the easiest.

You can search for songs authorized by ISUM here.

ISUM Music Database | Unified copyright processing for music used at weddings by the General Incorporated Association, Institute for the Promotion of Specific Uses of Music (ISUM)

From what I found, there are only about two agencies that handle ISUM application submissions, and they seem to be fairly pricey (and one of the services hasn’t launched yet).

Additionally, when I asked the wedding venue how much it would cost for them to handle the ISUM application on our behalf,10,000 yen per songI heard it takes about that long.

Seriously? That’s way too expensive... it’s just one song... just one song!?!

Ask about the songs you want to use with ISUM

Basically, the premise is that you apply to ISUM through an agency, but the ISUM representative was very kind and explained everything in detail.

I’m so grateful, so grateful...

When making an inquiry, it’s recommended to research and include not only the song title but also the ISUM number, JASRAC number, and the names of the lyricist and composer.

From here on, it will be the actual application, so the order depends on the track.

In summary, it’s easier to apply when copyrights are centralized under JASRAC.

Apply to JRC and e-License

Depending on the song, you need copyright permission not only from JASRAC but also from the following two organizations (these are just the two I know of; there may be others).

I applied because the song I want to use is a JRC track.

You can either print the Excel application form, stamp it, and send it by mail, or scan it and attach it to an email.

A situation without Excel is not anticipated.

Printing in Excel, stamping, mailing, scanning…

Irasutoya

If you properly submit the application documents, you'll receive the JRC authorization mark and authorization number, which you should then include on the DVD.

For your reference216 yen per songIt was.

The invoice arrived right away, so I transferred the payment immediately.

Call the responsible company to have them determine the copyright fees for overseas songs.

If there’s a foreign song you want to use, first call JASRAC to get the name of the company handling the rights in Japan, along with the contact person’s name and phone number, then call that contact person.

If the person in charge is in a meeting, they tell me to “please call back,” and since I can’t leave a message, I keep calling back until I get through.

Irasutoya

To get straight to the point, when I was told, “Normally it’s 100,000 yen per song, but for weddings it starts at 50,000 yen per song,” I decided not to use an overseas song.

If you absolutely want to use a foreign song, please use the price as a reference.

It’s just one song… just one song!?!?

Apply to JASRAC

To apply for songs with JASRAC, you need to register as a member of something called 'J-RAPP'.

After filling in the required information and affixing your seal/signature, please mail or fax it to the designated address.

After receiving your J-RAPP application form, we will send your login ID and password by mail.

Sign, stamp, mail, fax...

The login ID and password will also arrive with the documents and will be sent by mail.

mailing

I didn’t expect the login ID and password to be sent by mail.

However, now that I’ve finally obtained the login ID and password and was about to apply,

It will display a prompt to enter the total playback time of the video software in minutes (rounding up seconds to the next minute).

I still haven’t finished making the video, so I don’t know yet!!! Sorry!!!! I haven’t even decided on the song yet!!! That said, I’ll start putting together the rough cut of the video just for the sake of submitting this application.

Not just the whole thing—since the application requires specifying exactly how many minutes and seconds of the song you’ll use, you can’t apply without making the video first. It’s a contradiction.

Irasutoya

That said, I made a video and submitted the application!

Then JASRAC will call you.

Irasutoya

After checking various things,200 yen per songIt’s about that much.

We’ll receive the logo and license number from JASRAC, so we’ll enter them in the final version and also display them on the DVD.

Apply to the Recording Industry Association of Japan

Since we'll probably be communicating the most, it's better to check in here before creating the video.

Thank you for taking care of everything, from confirming the rights to everything else.

If you apply for many songs, they will check with each record company, so it takes quite a long time.

Contact the Recording Industry Association of Japan → The RIAJ will verify/check → Once all checks are completed, the RIAJ will send the application form → Submit the application → Since it takes about two weeks for the application to be accepted, you should allow about a month in total.

And of course, applications require an Excel signature and seal, submitted by email or fax.

Irasutoya

Excel has practically become essential for making videos now.

The application also requires a “product number,” but without going out of your way to search through a large number of CDs to find the product numbers,Online shopping with T-Points for books, manga, DVDs, CDs, games, and anime | TSUTAYA Online ShoppingI searched for it and found it, so thanks, Tsutaya.

Basically, we make payments for neighboring rights to the Recording Industry Association of Japan, and for your reference, the cost is2,376 yen per trackIt is.

This was the highest of all...

But after all, making videos with songs I like is fun.

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably thinking, “Why not just use royalty-free music to avoid all this hassle?” But when you’re making a video, you end up listening to the same track over and over again, so if it’s not a song you love, it’s honestly brutal.

Irasutoya

Also, there are songs that are easier to make videos with, so choosing those from the free music library is another challenge.

We haven’t played the video at the wedding yet, so I haven’t seen anyone’s reactions, but wouldn’t people get more excited with a song the guests are familiar with?

It feels better to watch when the music and the slideshow are in sync, doesn’t it?

I feel good!

In the first place, the reason I decided to start a blog was that I didn’t want it to end up like, “Ugh, copyright applications are such a hassle, so I’ll just stop using my favorite songs in slideshows.”

Because ISUM operates on a song-request basis, songs don't increase easily unless people actively request the ones they want to use.

Everyone! Let's use our favorite songs!!!

The following is superfluous.

Recommended song list you can use if you apply to JASRAC and the Recording Industry Association of Japan

A list of songs you can use without having to apply to another company—in other words, songs you can apply for starting at about 3,000 yen per track (please verify).

This was one of the songs requested by the bride, so I started creating it with this track once, but it just didn’t fit the mood. After much hesitation, I decided not to use it.

From what I've made so far, the video was easy to put together, and it seems like a song that would make it easy for the audience to clap along at the venue.

Next, I want to try making it with this song.

There it is! Gen Hoshino!! That’s the vibe, and it makes the video easy to create!!

Its name recognition is top-notch, and it looks good.

Perfume has a lot of songs, you know.

I wonder if there are any fans who are applying?

Awesome—thanks! There are even 7-day ones!

The PV for Magic of Love looks like it would be easy to use in a slideshow with the way the song transitions, so it seems like it would be easy to make a video.

The song is cute, too.

As the number of sites offering free stock video footage is increasing, please do create a wonderful wedding video.