Authors rights’ collections in Japan dropped 2.4% during 2008 compared to the previous year, according to figures released by the Japanese Society for the Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC).
In its 2008 report, JASRAC reported collections had dropped to $1.25 billion. The collecting society reported decreased earnings from physical sales, karaoke and live performance, with earnings on mechanical royalties from CDs slipping 5.2%. Across-the-board, earnings on digital sales saw a 1.1% increase.
The overall drop contrasts with a 4% overall rise seen in 2007. However, JASRAC says that figure was inflated by money released to JASRAC following a court decision against cable TV companies in Japan who had previously refused to pay collection fees.
